A North Huntingdon man is accused of driving 90 mph in a 35 mph zone when he crashed into another vehicle, seriously injuring its driver, according to township police.
Nolan Patrick Mullen, 22, was arraigned Friday on charges of aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangerment and related offenses.
Authorities said in court papers that they were called to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Clay Pike Road and Brokers Lane, near Indian Lake, in North Huntingdon on July 7 around 1:30 p.m. Three witnesses told police a Chrysler 300 driven by Mullen was speeding south on Clay Pike Road around a bend as a then-36-year-old woman driving a Ford Escape turned left onto the road from Brokers Lane.
The SUV had almost completed the turn onto Clay Pike Road when police said the Chrysler veered over the center line and hit it nearly head-on, according to court papers. The woman and a child in her SUV’s back seat were rushed to AHN Forbes Hospital, police said.
The speed limit on Clay Pike Road there is 35 mph and a sign warning motorists of the upcoming intersection with Brokers Lane drops it to 25 mph.
A crash reconstructionist reported to investigators that the event data recorder in Mullen’s car showed he was traveling 90 mph just before the crash. He was not hurt.
Officers said the woman suffered a brain injury and continues to have weakness and numbness on her left side, as well as cognitive and motor skill issues. Investigators did not say in court papers if the child was hurt.
Mullen is free on his own recognizance. His attorney could not immediately be reached. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13.
