FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — Criminal charges have been filed against a Franklin man accused of fleeing the police and crashing into a cement wall at Joy Global.
(Photos by Michelle Williams)
According to court documents, on Thursday, July 6, the Franklin Police Department filed criminal charges against 33-year-old Travis A. Semrau, of Franklin, in Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland’s office.
Semrau faces the following charges:
– Aggravated Assault By Vehicle While DUI
– Aggravated Assault by Vehicle, Felony 3
– Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer, Felony 3
– DUI: General Impairment/Incompetent of Driving Safely — 1st Off
– DUI: Highest Rate of Alcohol (BAC .16+) 1st Off
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– BAC .02 or Greater 2nd Offense
– Required Financial Responsibility
– Reckless Driving
– Permitting Violation — Accident Involving Death/Injury — Not Properly Licensed
– Display Plate Card In Improper Vehicle Driving Unregistered Vehicle
– Drive Wrong Way
– Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices Duties At Stop Sign
– Driving at Safe Speed
Court documents indicate the case is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Details on the Chase, Subsequent Crash
According to a criminal complaint, around 12:40 a.m. on June 1, Franklin Police Patrolman Barnes was conducting a state-sponsored traffic enforcement detail known as “Buckle Up” or “Click It or Ticket” when he observed a red Ford Mustang operated by 33-year-old Travis Semrau. Semrau allegedly committed several traffic violations including nearly hitting a parked car in the 1300 block of Franklin Avenue.
When Patrolman Barnes attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Semrau fled the area at a high rate of speed in the Mustang, and a pursuit was initiated. The brief pursuit reached speeds of between 80 and 90 mph from the 1500 block to the 1200 block of Buffalo Street with the suspect vehicle pulling away from Patrolman Barnes at a speed believed to be in excess of 100 mph.
The pursuit of the suspect vehicle was called off in the 1200 block of Buffalo Street due to the pursuing officer losing sight of the vehicle, most likely due to the vehicle’s lights being turned off. Patrolman Barnes also cited the increased risk of both vehicles being involved in an accident.
All available patrol units shifted efforts into a search for the suspect vehicle. Search efforts were concentrated in the area where the Mustang was last seen.
While the search was being conducted, Venango County 911 dispatched Franklin Police, Franklin Fire, and Community Ambulance Service to the intersection of 4th Street and Buffalo Street for a report of a vehicle accident.
It was reported by 911 that the vehicle involved matched the description of the suspect vehicle and that it had hit a building at Joy Global Inc. on Buffalo Street at a high rate of speed. When officers arrived on the scene, it was confirmed that the vehicle involved in the accident was the same one involved in the high-speed chase.
(Photo by Michelle Williams)
The Mustang collided with a heavy garage bay door at Joy Global’s loading dock and continued into the loading bay where it slammed into a cement wall at a high rate of speed.
Police say the impact caused “massive damage” to the vehicle and entrapped the driver and an adult female passenger.
Police say over 200 feet of skid marks were found at the scene.
Franklin Fire, Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department, and Community Ambulance Service extricated both occupants from the vehicle utilizing “heavy equipment,” such as jaws for life.
The complaint states that when officers made contact with Semrau, he was hostile and uncooperative. This continued throughout the incident. Semrau had a strong odor of alcoholic beverages about his person and displayed multiple signs of impairment, according to police.
Once free from the vehicle, Semrau and his passenger were transported by Community Ambulance Service to Venango County Airport where they were transported by medical helicopter to UPMC Hamot for treatment.
A search for Semrau’s driver’s status found him to be under suspension for DUI related, the complaint continues.
A search warrant was obtained to determine the seriousness of Semrau’s and his passenger’s injuries, as well as Semrau’s level of impairment at the time of the accident.
According to the complaint, a review of the medical records for Semrau confirmed that he suffered life-threatening injuries in the accident. His injuries included but were not limited to, bilateral pulmonary contusions, an acute aortic injury, fractures in his ribs, a dislocated hip with fractures, and a broken right arm. The records also indicated a positive result for the presence of Benzodiazepine and quaaludes. Semrau’s B.A.C. was 0.216% at the time of the testing.
The complaint states that a review of the medical records for Semrau’s passenger confirmed that she suffered life-threatening injuries in the accident, including but not limited to ground glass present in her lungs, a pneumothorax, fractured ribs, bilateral femoral fractures with dislocation, an acute aortic injury, and a broken nose.
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FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — Criminal charges have been filed against a Franklin man accused of fleeing the police and crashing into a cement wall at Joy Global.
(Photos by Michelle Williams)
According to court documents, on Thursday, July 6, the Franklin Police Department filed criminal charges against 33-year-old Travis A. Semrau, of Franklin, in Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland’s office.
Semrau faces the following charges:
– Aggravated Assault By Vehicle While DUI
– Aggravated Assault by Vehicle, Felony 3
– Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer, Felony 3
– DUI: General Impairment/Incompetent of Driving Safely — 1st Off
– DUI: Highest Rate of Alcohol (BAC .16+) 1st Off
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– BAC .02 or Greater 2nd Offense
– Required Financial Responsibility
– Reckless Driving
– Permitting Violation — Accident Involving Death/Injury — Not Properly Licensed
– Display Plate Card In Improper Vehicle Driving Unregistered Vehicle
– Drive Wrong Way
– Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices Duties At Stop Sign
– Driving at Safe Speed
Court documents indicate the case is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Details on the Chase, Subsequent Crash
According to a criminal complaint, around 12:40 a.m. on June 1, Franklin Police Patrolman Barnes was conducting a state-sponsored traffic enforcement detail known as “Buckle Up” or “Click It or Ticket” when he observed a red Ford Mustang operated by 33-year-old Travis Semrau. Semrau allegedly committed several traffic violations including nearly hitting a parked car in the 1300 block of Franklin Avenue.
When Patrolman Barnes attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Semrau fled the area at a high rate of speed in the Mustang, and a pursuit was initiated. The brief pursuit reached speeds of between 80 and 90 mph from the 1500 block to the 1200 block of Buffalo Street with the suspect vehicle pulling away from Patrolman Barnes at a speed believed to be in excess of 100 mph.
The pursuit of the suspect vehicle was called off in the 1200 block of Buffalo Street due to the pursuing officer losing sight of the vehicle, most likely due to the vehicle’s lights being turned off. Patrolman Barnes also cited the increased risk of both vehicles being involved in an accident.
All available patrol units shifted efforts into a search for the suspect vehicle. Search efforts were concentrated in the area where the Mustang was last seen.
While the search was being conducted, Venango County 911 dispatched Franklin Police, Franklin Fire, and Community Ambulance Service to the intersection of 4th Street and Buffalo Street for a report of a vehicle accident.
It was reported by 911 that the vehicle involved matched the description of the suspect vehicle and that it had hit a building at Joy Global Inc. on Buffalo Street at a high rate of speed. When officers arrived on the scene, it was confirmed that the vehicle involved in the accident was the same one involved in the high-speed chase.
(Photo by Michelle Williams)
The Mustang collided with a heavy garage bay door at Joy Global’s loading dock and continued into the loading bay where it slammed into a cement wall at a high rate of speed.
Police say the impact caused “massive damage” to the vehicle and entrapped the driver and an adult female passenger.
Police say over 200 feet of skid marks were found at the scene.
Franklin Fire, Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department, and Community Ambulance Service extricated both occupants from the vehicle utilizing “heavy equipment,” such as jaws for life.
The complaint states that when officers made contact with Semrau, he was hostile and uncooperative. This continued throughout the incident. Semrau had a strong odor of alcoholic beverages about his person and displayed multiple signs of impairment, according to police.
Once free from the vehicle, Semrau and his passenger were transported by Community Ambulance Service to Venango County Airport where they were transported by medical helicopter to UPMC Hamot for treatment.
A search for Semrau’s driver’s status found him to be under suspension for DUI related, the complaint continues.
A search warrant was obtained to determine the seriousness of Semrau’s and his passenger’s injuries, as well as Semrau’s level of impairment at the time of the accident.
According to the complaint, a review of the medical records for Semrau confirmed that he suffered life-threatening injuries in the accident. His injuries included but were not limited to, bilateral pulmonary contusions, an acute aortic injury, fractures in his ribs, a dislocated hip with fractures, and a broken right arm. The records also indicated a positive result for the presence of Benzodiazepine and quaaludes. Semrau’s B.A.C. was 0.216% at the time of the testing.
The complaint states that a review of the medical records for Semrau’s passenger confirmed that she suffered life-threatening injuries in the accident, including but not limited to ground glass present in her lungs, a pneumothorax, fractured ribs, bilateral femoral fractures with dislocation, an acute aortic injury, and a broken nose.
