Man who caused crash fleeing police gets probation

A Philadelphia man whose car got into a crash on West Chester Pike while running from a traffic stop has pleaded guilty to accidents involving death or personal injury and fleeing from police.

Abdul I. Anderson, 20, was given two years of probation and a $500 fine under the negotiated guilty plea worked out by Assistant District Attorney Dan Kerley and defense counsel Ian Pulz.

He will also have to submit a DNA sample to state police.

Anderson had no comment during the short hearing before Common Pleas Court Judge James Bradley.

According to an affidavit of probable cause written by Haverford Township Police Sgt. Matthew Murray:

Anderson was driving a silver Nissan sedan southbound on North Eagle Road on June 23, when Murray initiated a traffic stop at Briarwood Road for a suspended registration due to canceled insurance.

Anderson provided his driver’s license and admitted that there was no insurance on the vehicle. He became argumentative when Murray informed him the vehicle would have to be towed, however, then put the car into drive and took off.

The Nissan wove in and out of traffic, but did not appear to be speeding. Anderson continued to flee, with officers pursuing, into a gas station on West Chester Pike, then turned into the Manoa Shopping

Center.

Anderson executed a U-turn in the shopping center driveway and headed back toward Eagle Road on West Chester Pike, where he ran a steady red signal. A vehicle traveling north on Eagle Road collided with the passenger side of the Nissan, which spun out and struck a building.

Anderson ran from the scene, jumping fences in the rear of properties on Pinzon Avenue, but was soon taken into custody without further incident.

The driver and passenger of the Honda that struck Anderson’s vehicle both complained of pain, but refused ambulance transport to a hospital. No contraband was found inside the Nissan.

Anderson was charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, fleeing from officers, evading arrest and a half-dozen summary traffic offenses. He posted $2,500 cash bail June 24, according to online court records. The remaining charges were dismissed under the plea.