Cops: Man High on PCP Jumped Out of Moving Car; Driver Arrested

A Pennsylvania man was arrested Wednesday morning after police say he was driving under the influence of narcotics on Route 206 in Chester, under 15 miles per hour, and crossing lanes shortly after his passenger dove from the moving vehicle.

At 3:47 a.m. Wednesday, Officer Rhys Marten stopped a 2008 Nissan Maxima for failure to maintain its lane and traveling at an extremely low speed, Chief David Jara said. Marten estimated the speed to fluctuate between three and 15 miles per hour, Jara said.

When Marten spoke with the driver, Andre Leach, 23, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, the officer observed the driver to be exhibiting signs of being under the influence of narcotics, Jara said. When Leach was questioned, he told police he had smoked marijuana and ingested PCP, Jara said.

Marten then conducted field sobriety tests, which were subsequently stopped because of Leach’s level of impairment, Jara said. While being placed under arrest, Leach was found to be in possession of two baggies of marijuana, Jara said.

Leach was then questioned about his reason for being in Chester at that time of night. Leach then allegedly told police that he was with another person in the car a short time earlier who was also high on PCP. That person was driving the vehicle initially, and then dove out of the vehicle while it was still moving, Jara said.

Leach told police he took over the driving until he was stopped by Officer Marten.

New Jersey State Police were notified of the incident and were asked if any persons were found between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Troopers then responded a short time later that they found a man who had dove from his car onto Route 287 from North Finney Avenue in Bernards Township, Jara said. That man, whose name was not released but was identified as the initial driver of the car Leach was in, was transported to Morristown Medical Center with unknown injuries.

Leach was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license, and failure to maintain lane.

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