A Lancaster man was ordered Tuesday to trial over allegations that he deliberately caused a highway crash during a road-rage incident earlier this month.
Jason A. Marsico, 44, waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday on numerous charges, including felony aggravated assault, regarding the Feb. 5 crash on Route 30 in West Hempfield Township.
Also at the hearing, police added a pair of additional charges.
Marsico, apparently upset about being passed by a Ford Taurus, later swerved into the Ford Taurus, driven by a York man.
Marsico’s Ford Explorer rolled multiple times, ejecting a 25-year-old female passenger, who sustained head injuries and a broken arm. Marsico also was hurt; he was arrested after leaving a local hospital.
West Hempfield police charged Marsico with first-degree felony aggravated assault (two counts) and reckless endangerment (two counts).
On Tuesday, police added two additional counts of second-degree felony aggravated assault, which allege that Marsico caused bodily injury with a deadly weapon (the Explorer), according to Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson.
By waiving the prelim, Marsico doesn’t admit guilt, but concedes there is evidence to support charges.
Police allege Marsico made hand gestures at the Taurus driver before his Ford Explorer veered into the Taurus. The Taurus collided with a guardrail, about a mile west of Prospect Road. The driver sustained lesser injuries.
The driver of the Taurus told police he passed the Explorer a few miles prior to the collision, in which he said the Explorer “rammed” his Taurus.
Another motorist told police the Explorer was tailgating the Taurus, before the Explorer eventually swerved and struck the Taurus.
The injured woman may never regain full use of his broken right arm. She had multiple bruises and cuts all over her body from being ejected through a sunroof.
West Hempfield Township police Cpl. Douglas Ober filed charges.
Marsico hired a bondsman to post bail. His next court appearance will be in Lancaster County Court. A trial is likely later this year, unless a plea is lodged.
He is presumed innocent.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright