A hit and run earlier this week in Ashland turned into a vehicle chase around the borough.According to Ashland Police, on Monday, July 29th, 2019, around 6:15pm, Officer Daniel Weikel received a call for a hit and run that just occurred with the drivers involved now chasing each other around the borough. Officer Weikel then received a second call that a third vehicle was involved in the chase.
The victim of the hit and run, was in contact with Schuylkill County Communication the whole time during the incident.
Weikel responded down Centre Street and found the three vehicles involved approaching him head on.
After Officer Weikel turned on his emergency lights, he blocked Centre Street with his police cruiser to stop all three drivers in the 1400 Block.
The victim told police that the incident began when he was leaving Willow Park and was struck by a blue Honda, driven by Brian Busler, of Ashland at the intersection of 15th Street and Spruce Street.
The victim told police, that after being struck, he got out and yelled at Busler, but that is when Busler backed up and struck the victim's vehicle a second time.
Busler then fled, with the bumper of his Honda hanging off. The victim then followed Busler to get his license information. That is also the time when the victim called 911.
The victim told police that Busler ran numerous red lights and stop signs while he followed him around the borough until police arrived.
The third vehicle involved was identified as a white VW Jetta operated by a female driver.
After the chase, when police attempted to question female driver, she refused to move her vehicle until the driver of the blue Honda paid for her broken windshield.
When Butler Township Police later arrived to assist and questioned her a second time, she fled the scene.
When police questioned Busler, he admitted to hitting the victim's vehicle. Busler also told police "when he got of he was yelling and he is a big buy, so I got scared and took off".
Officer Weikel filed misdemeanor and summary charges on Busler for recklessly endangering another person, accidents involving damage to vehicle or property, reckless driving, careless driving, duty to give information or render aid, immediate notice of accident to a police department, and driving on the wrong side of the highway.