Police: Jeannette man without valid driver's license crashes stolen Cadillac in Hempfield

A Jeannette man who does not have a valid driver’s license crashed a stolen car Sunday evening on Route 30 in Hempfield, according to state police.

The crash snarled eastbound traffic in the area of Westwood Drive near the Alpine Pools store around 6:20 p.m. after troopers said Thomas Anthony Cochran, 23, collided with another vehicle. He is charged with theft, forgery, resisting arrest, driving under the influence and several related offenses.

Police said a Cadillac Eldorado had front end damage and a Chevrolet Traverse had rear end damage. Troopers spoke with the driver of the Cadillac who gave police the wrong name and birth date and used that identity to decline medical treatment at the scene, according to court papers.

The driver had constricted pupils and slow movements and speech, leading police to believe he was impaired. Authorities could not confirm the identity given to them by the driver but found a card in his wallet identifying him as Cochran, according to court papers. He is accused of pulling away from police as troopers tried to take him into custody.

Police said they found suspected heroin and drug paraphernalia in his pocket.

The Cadillac’s owner didn’t realize it had been stolen from her Jeannette home about 5 miles away until troopers contacted her. It was unclear from court papers if anyone was hurt in the crash. Cochran’s driver’s license previously was suspended, police said.

He was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $15,000 bail. There was not an attorney listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is set for April 14.

Cochran is awaiting trial in a drunken-driving case filed by White Oak police following a November incident, according to online court records.