Driver Of Stolen U-Haul Leads Police On Chase In Lower Bucks Co.

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Bristol Township man is in custody after leading police on a chase through several towns on Tuesday in a stolen U-Haul before being captured seven hours after the saga began, police said.

The chase, which started on Tuesday morning involved several crashes — striking two police cars — before ending in Bensalem Township in the afternoon, police said.

Ryan Laskowski, 38, of Bristol Township, was charged with fleeing and eluding, theft of a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, and multiple related motor vehicle offenses.

Pennsylvania State Police charged him with five felonies, four misdemeanors, and six summary charges. He was arraigned on Tuesday, and bail was set at 10 percent of $250,000.

A State Trooper with the Trevose barracks suffered a minor injury during the incident.

Laskowski also faces charges with the Bensalem Township Police Department.

Bristol Township Police said the incident began Tuesday morning after a Newtown resident requested a well-being check on her son, who was reportedly in the area of Bath Road and Veterans Highway.

Police said Laskowski was believed to be in a U-Haul truck that had expired beyond its rental period.

The U-Haul did not stop when police tried to pull it over, committed various traffic offenses, crashed into another vehicle, and fled the scene of the crash, said police, who called off their pursuit at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, and reported the U-Haul as stolen.

Just before 3 p.m., another Bristol Township police officer spotted the U-Haul vehicle in a parking lot near New Falls Road and Woerner Avenue in the Village Center Shopping Center.

The U-Haul again fled the scene, which led to another police pursuit and multiple crashes on Interstate 95, police said.

Bensalem Police and Pennsylvania State Police re-engaged Laskowski in a pursuit, during which he hit a Bensalem patrol car, a fence, and a fire hydrant near the ACME store at 2301 Bristol Road.

State Police said a patrol car was also struck in the area of State Route 63 and Millbrook Road in Philadelphia.

Laskowski was taken into custody at 3:30 p.m. in the area of Bristol Road and Grandview Avenue after he crashed into another vehicle on the roadway, Bensalem Police said.

The occupants of the other vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries, as did Laskowski, who was awaiting arraignment.

(Bensalem Township Police Department)