Motorist charged after vehicle hits pedestrian at gas station

By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com

Charleroi Regional Police filed felony charges against a motorist who allegedly pinned another man between two vehicles during a mishap at a Charleroi gas station pump Tuesday.
Felony charges of accidents involving death or injury while not licensed and criminal mischief were filed against Jean Cadet, 19, of North Charleroi. Cadet, who does not have a driver’s license, also faces a misdemeanor charge of accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle or property and summary charges for driving without a license, reckless driving and careless driving, according to police.
According to the affidavit filed with the charges, the charges are related to an accident at the Sunoco station on Fallowfield Avenue Tuesday night in which a man received a severe cut to his lower right leg after being struck and pinned between two vehicles.
Both the victim and the suspect in the case are Haitian, the affidavit states. Speaking to police through an interpreter, the victim in the case, John Peter Haerard, told police the man driving the car wasn’t a good driver, so he opened the driver’s door to offer to pull the car closer to the gas pump. That’s when Cadet then hit the gas, pinning Haerard between his vehicle and a parked vehicle. Cadet then left the area, but returned when Haerard called him at the request of the police. According to the Charleroi Fire Department, the victim was flown by helicopter to a regional trauma center.
According to the affidavit, Cadet returned to the scene and told police through an interpreter he didn’t run his friend over on purpose. He is awaiting a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Justice Eric Porter.