Mar 27, 2018 3 min read

A Fayette County man faces charges from three Monongahela Valley police departments stemming from a chase Friday afternoon that started in Charleroi, went through Carroll Township and ended on Toll 43 in Union Township.

Joshua W. Kefover, 32, of Uniontown, was taken into custody by Monongahela police on charges including reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of a crash, fleeing or attempting to elude police, criminal mischief, failure to render aid, possession of paraphernalia and numerous drug violations.

Monongahela police were on patrol about 4:40 p.m. when they received a report that Charleroi Regional and Carroll Township police were pursuing a red Volkswagen Jetta that got on Toll 43 before getting off in Carroll. Carroll police, in a complaint they are filing against Kefover, said speeds on the toll road reached about 130 mph.

After police lost sight of the car, it was spotted again on VanVoorhis Lane. Police said Kefover again fled at a high speed. Police backed off in their pursuit because of the number of other vehicles in the area.

Monongahela police, traveling north on Route 88 in Union, then saw the car as it was backing out a parking space at a convenience store. The officer tried to stop the car, but it fled.

Police briefly lost sight of the car on McChain Road before spotting it again. They said Kefover’s car crashed into three vehicles on Finleyville-Elrama Road in Union. Police did not indicate if anyone in those three vehicles was injured.

Police said Kefover then got back on Toll 43, but the car started leaking fluids and came to a stop on the side of the toll road.

Joanna Zelinsky, 37, of VanVoorhis, who was a passenger in Kefover’s car, was taken into custody. She reportedly was wanted on warrants in Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Monongahela police charged her Monday with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kefover, who was arrested and arraigned on the Monongahela charges before District Judge David Mark, also was arraigned on charges of retail theft and conspiracy filed by Peters Township police for allegedly stealing four Yeti coolers from Miller’s Hardware, 4276 Washington Road, on Feb. 21.

Kefover was placed in Washington County jail on $60,000 bond. He faces an April 3 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jesse Pettit.

Carroll police said Monday they will charge Kefover with flight to avoid apprehension, fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment, obstructing administration of justice and numerous traffic violations. Charleroi police also plan to file charges against him.

Online court records show that Kefover also is charged in a private criminal complaint with retail theft filed by loss-prevention personnel at the Walmart in Natrona Heights, Allegheny County, stemming from a Sept. 23 incident.

State police at the Indiana barracks charged him with defiant trespass and conspiracy stemming from a Feb. 24 incident in Burrell Township, Indiana County.