Sharpsburg driver, Hampton man charged in aftermath of crash

Published: Wednesday, March 5, 2014, 12:46a.m. Updated 10 hours ago

A Sharpsburg man faces multiple charges after allegedly crashing his car into two porches and a parked car on Guys Run Road in Harmar and running away.

Taylor J. Rodgers, 21, of Eighth Street was arraigned before District Judge David Sosovicka on Tuesday morning after turning himself in. He's charged with three misdemeanor counts of accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, reckless driving, tampering with physical evidence and criminal conspiracy.

According to police records, Rodgers was speeding from Freeport Road around 2 a.m. Saturday when he lost control of his red BMW SUV in the 800 block of Guys Run Road.

Police estimate he was driving about 50 mph when the SUV demolished two rowhouse porches and slammed into a parked car.

Resident Lorie Seiler, who owns the totalled Ford Fusion, said Rodgers pleaded with her not to call the police as she reported the incident to 911. According to Seiler, Rodgers said he was drunk and took off on foot through the woods behind the rowhouses.

Seiler told police that a white SUV pulled up minutes later. The male driver reportedly took a backpack from Rodgers' crashed BMW before returning to his SUV across the street when police arrived.

The man identified himself as Tyler Bajus, 21, of Hampton, and told police he was an uninvolved observer. After witnesses informed police that he was in Rodgers' car, Bajus confessed to knowing Rodgers and removing the backpack, which police say contained marijuana.

Bajus was arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence, obstructing the administration of law, hindering apprehension or prosecution and marijuana possession all misdemeanors. His hearing is scheduled for Monday before Sosovicka.

Rodgers' preliminary hearing before Sosovicka is scheduled for the same day. Bajus and Rodgers were released on their own recognizance.

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Sharpsburg driver, Hampton man charged in aftermath of crash