A Jeannette man is in jail after police said he was driving erratically Tuesday night in North Huntingdon and rammed another vehicle, pushing it onto Route 30.
Township police said Todd Allen Zvara, 54, appeared to be intoxicated during the 9 p.m. incident. He is charged with aggravated assault, fleeing from police, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence and reckless driving.
Officers were called to the Kohl’s parking lot where a white 2000 Volkswagen car reportedly was driving in circles, according to court papers. The driver crossed Route 30 during a red light and turned onto Barnes Lake Road. Police caught up with the car at the intersection of Mills Drive and Ronda Court, where it was sitting at a stop sign.
The car fled and officers said they pursued it toward Route 30. The driver rammed another vehicle that was waiting at the intersection, pushing it onto the highway and into the path of crossing traffic, according to court papers.
Police tried to break the car’s window with a baton and used a Taser, eventually getting the door open and pulling Zvara from the driver’s seat. Police say he told them he took amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, both of which are stimulants.
Zvara was arraigned Wednesday. He was being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bond. An April 14 preliminary hearing is set. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records.
Zvara is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in May on drunken-driving charges stemming from a February 2020 incident filed by Jeannette police, according to online court records. He is also charged with drug possession, trespass and disorderly conduct in that case.
