Two people are facing charges after a crash on Route 309 in West Penn Township.
According to West Penn Township Police, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, officers were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on West Penn Pike (Route 309).
A white 2015 Mercedes C63 AMG sedan bearing a South Carolina registration was on its side with heavy damage.
The vehicle hit several trees snapping them in half.
The driver was out of the vehicle and provided a name and date of birth to Police. She claimed that she was driving, and the car slid off the roadway however the temperature at the time of the accident was 35 degrees and the roads where dry.
The driver was unable to produce insurance information on the vehicle.
EMS was on the scene and transported the driver to the hospital for evaluation.
Officers conducted a computer search of the name and date of birth provided by the driver which came back with no record found.
Upon arrival at the hospital, Police were informed the driver refused a blood draw and got into a waiting vehicle and fled.
In the meantime, Police received a telephone call from Lamar Mulligan claiming to be the vehicle owner, stating that he is not familiar with the driver, however the driver was texting him.
Mulligan stated that he had given the car to the driver’s brother and was not sure why she was driving it.
Police impounded the vehicle for investigative purposes and found the driver’s identification card.
The driver, now identified as Jodian Smalling, of Allentown, was charged by the West Penn Township Police Officer Kai Apel with the following:
- False Identification To Law Enforcement Officer
- Reckless Driving
- Operating a Vehicle without required financial responsibility card
- Driving with a Suspended or Revoked License
The registered owner of the vehicle, Lamar Charles Mulligan, of Brooklyn, NY was instructed to send a valid copy of his vehicle's insurance card to the Police station to start the impound release process.
Mulligan did send an insurance card and upon routine investigation with the insurance company, Police were informed that the policy was never active under the defendant's name or stated vehicle.
Mulligan presented an altered or forged document in the attempt to deceive the Police.
West Penn Township Police charged Mulligan with the following:
- Forgery
- Fraud
- Operating a Vehicle without required financial responsibility card
The charges for both were filed through Magisterial District Judge Andrew Serina's office.