Jan 6, 2018 2 min read

Police have charged an Avella man after he allegedly crashed into a McDonald police cruiser and a utility pole while intoxicated last month in Midway.

Michael Andrew Luff, 24, of 29 Jill St., was charged Wednesday by McDonald police with reckless endangerment, accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, failure to stop at a stop sign, damage to unattended property and careless driving.

Two McDonald police officers were in a parking lot on St. Johns Street Dec. 2 when they spotted a Dodge Neon with no front tire on the driver’s side traveling at a high speed. The front bumper of the car was dragging on the road, police said.

The car, driven by Luff, did not stop at a sign at the intersection with Noblestown Road, police said. The officers activated the lights and siren on the cruiser in an attempt to stop the car.

Luff then allegedly crashed the car into a utility pole. Police pulled in behind the car. Officer Paul Bosle was walking toward the car when Luff allegedly backed into the cruiser, damaging it. Luff then pulled forward in an apparent attempt to flee, but instead crashed into the utility pole a second time, police said.

When asked by the officers if had consumed an alcoholic beverage, Luff reportedly answered, “I had a couple beers.” Luff was taken to Washington Hospital for treatment, and blood was drawn. Police said tests showed his blood-alcohol content was more than double the 0.08 percent limit at which intoxication is presumed, and that he also had marijuana in his system.

Charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Gary Havelka.