Police Log, 5/2/2025
NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL – The following is a collection of police incidents reported by local law enforcement agencies.
Vehicle Crash, hit-and-run
BRANDONVILLE – No injuries were reported when a vehicle left the highway and struck a portable conveyor belt assembly at the former Brandonville firehouse.
According to State Police at Frackville, the crash happened around 11am on April 19.
Troopers said Solivette Alicea, 40, of Pottsville, was headed north on Route 924 towards Brandonville in a 2022 Toyota.
Troopers said she missed the left-hand turn at the bottom of the hill and struck a portable conveyor belt assembly.
The vehicle was disabled and Alicea and her passenger, 27-year-old Jasmine Reynoso, of Minersville, fled the scene.
Alicea was cited for the crash.
Vehicle Crash
MAHANOY TWP. – Two women were injured and cited after a crash on Interstate 81 in April.
According to State Police at Frackville, the crash happened around 4pm April 17 on Interstate 81 in Mahanoy Township.
A 2015 Nissan Juke, driven by Tara Whitehead, 43, of Kingston, had been disabled on the west shoulder of Interstate 81 Northbound, partially in the highway.
An approaching driver, 35-year-old Virginia Adams, of Conyngham, failed to see the disabled vehicle and struck it with her 2010 Chevrolet Malibu.
Both vehicles were disabled and towed from the scene.
Both drivers sustained minor injuries and were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hazleton. They were both cited for the crash, as well.
Pursuit
POTTSVILLE – Three people were taken into custody after a police chase in the county seat.
According to State Police at Schuylkill Haven, troopers located a reported stolen vehicle in Pottsville around 8pm April 28 and attempted a traffic stop.
The vehicle instead fled troopers and a pursuit commenced.
Eventually, the vehicle became disabled and the driver, Christopher Schoffstall, fled.
Two others in the car — Kevin Carrington and Courtney Schweikert — were identified and had active warrants, troopers said.
Also found in the car was a black book bag with “a large quantity of drugs.”
Schoffstall, of Pottsville, was arraigned on felony receiving stolen property and flight charges. He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $100,000 bail.
Vehicle Crash
DRUMS – A Mountain Top woman had to be rescued from her car after a crash on Route 309 north of Hazleton.
The crash happened around 3:40pm Tuesday at Route 309 and South Main Road in Butler Township, Luzerne County.
According to Butler Township Police, Remona Mansilla-Perry, 48, of Mountain Top, was headed east on South Main Road in a 2024 Hyundai sedan.
Police said she was struck by a Ram pickup truck driven by a Hazle Township man headed south on Route 309 as she entered the highway.
Mansilla-Perry was trapped in the vehicle for about 30 minutes and had to be rescued by Valley Regional and Hazle Township firefighters. She was taken to a Wilkes-Barre area hospital. The Hazle Township man was not injured.
Vehicle Crash
DRUMS – A Hazle Township man was flown to an area hospital after a motorcycle crash in Butler Township, Luzerne County.
According to Butler Township Police, the crash happened around 5pm Tuesday in front of Good Shepard Church on Route 309.
Thomas R. Yanac, 41, of Hazle Township, was headed north on Route 309 when police said he struck the rear end of a 2016 Toyota Rav 4 that was turning into the church paring lot.
Yanac was flown to a Wilkes-Barre area hospital.
Vehicle Crash
ONEIDA – A Zion Grove woman escaped injury when state troopers say she fell asleep at the wheel and rolled her car.
The crash happened around 7am Thursday on Nuremberg Road between Oneida and Nuremberg.
State Police at Frackville said Tasha Adomshick, 34, of Zion Grove, was headed south on Nuremberg Road in a 2014 Chrysler 200 when troopers say she fell asleep at the wheel.
She struck a boulder on the side of the road and rolled the vehicle, troopers said.
She was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.
Troopers said she will be cited for the crash.
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