Man accused of leading troopers on 100 mph chase in Hempfield, Unity

A Ligonier Township man is accused of leading state troopers on a chase exceeding 100 mph for several miles along Route 30 in Hempfield and Unity and intentionally crashing into three state police patrol cars.

Robbie T. Saunders, 56, is charged with attempted homicide of a police officer and aggravated assault. He was arraigned Saturday after he was released from a hospital for treatment of injuries suffered from the crash, in which he was ejected from his 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup along Beatty Road in Unity.

The chase began about 8:30 p.m. Thursday along the westbound lanes of Route 30 near the Route 982 interchange when Saunders sped past a state police car and erratically changed lanes, Trooper Evan Terek reported.

Trooper Jason Kinger told Terek he attempted to stop Saunders but he continued east on Route 30 at speeds of more than 100 mph. Kinger told investigators that, during the pursuit, Saunders “would aggressively apply his brakes,” attempting to cause a collision with the police car.

Once Saunders reached the Old Route 30 intersection in Hempfield, Kinger told Terek that Saunders did a U-turn and headed east on Route 30 at a high rate of speed. Kinger said Saunders pulled over in the Oakley Park Plaza area off Route 30 East.

When Kinger got out of his patrol car and approached Saunders in his pickup, Saunders “aggressively accelerated” his truck into the police cruiser and attempted to hit Kinger, according to court papers.

Saunders then continued east on Route 30 to Beatty Road, where other officers joined in the pursuit. On Beatty Road, Saunders again applied his brakes, causing an accident with Trooper Robert Taylor, police said.

Trooper Ryan Ilich then swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid crashing into Taylor. Saunders swerved into Ilich’s vehicle but lost control of his truck, drove up an embankment and rolled over.

Police said Saunders was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and seriously injured. Ilich and Taylor provided first aid until ambulance crews arrived, Terek reported.

In addition to attempted homicide of a police officer and three counts of aggravated assault, Saunders is charged with fleeing and eluding police, reckless endangerment, careless driving, reckless driving and multiple traffic violations.

He was arraigned before Hempfield District Judge Tony Bompiani and is in the county prison on $250,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is June 16.