Updated: Police File Drug Charges Against Driver After High-Speed Car Chase Ends in Cranberry Township

A Butler County woman is facing drug and reckless-driving charges after she sped off to evade and officers while her 17-year-old son and another man were in the vehicle.

Jackson Township Police Chief Terry Seilhamer said a patrolling officer attempted to pull over a black Chevrolet Blazer that Nancy Hinchberger, 45, of Butler, was driving at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on Route 528. The officer saw the Blazer cross the center line of the road several times, Seilhamer said.

Instead of stopping, Hinchberger drove away at a high rate of speed near the park-and-ride lot on Lindsay Road before turning south on to Route 19 and entering Cranberry Township, the chief said. According to a criminal complaint that Jackson Township police filed, the Blazer's speed reached 80 mph or more.

 joined the officers from Jackson as they chased Hinchberger onto Bear Run Road and through several neighborhoods. At that time, a passenger in the rear seat jumped out of the moving vehicle, police said.

Seilhamer said Donald Vargo, 37, of Renfrew, suffered a severe case of road burn as a result of the incident. An ambulance took him to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was treated for a gash on his head and released, Seilhamer said.

The chief estimated Hinchberger was driving at about 35 mph when Vargo jumped from the vehicle. He did not know Vargo’s relationship to Hinchberger.

“He claimed they were giving him a ride,” Seilhamer said.

Shortly after Vargo jumped out, Hinchberger’s 17-year-old son also jumped from the moving SUV. Seilhamer said the boy landed on his feet and began to run while shedding drug paraphernalia and pills he was carrying.

Seilhamer said the boy slipped and fell into a ditch, where he hit his head on large stones and lost consciousness.

Seilhamer said the teen was taken to , where he was treated for his head injury and released.  

About a 100 yards from where her son jumped from the vehicle, Hinchberger pulled over her SUV near the Manor Creek Farms neighborhood and attempted to run from officers, Seilhamer said. She did not get far before a Jackson Township officer tackled her, he said.

Hinchberger admitted to officers she had been smoking crack-cocaine and marijuana and had taken several anti-depressants, according to the criminal complaint. She also told police she had multiple pieces of drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. 

She was arraigned Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Wayne in Evans City on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude officers, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, reckless driving, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license and disregarding traffic lanes.

The Butler County Sheriff's office also had an active arrest warrant for Hinchberger at the time of the pursuit. Seilhamer did not know the charges that led to that warrant being issued.

Hinchberger is scheduled to go before Seibel for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.

Seilhamer said Jackson police also anticipate filing an additional charge of endangering the welfare of a child or reckless endangerment against her. 

Cranberry police are still determining if they will file charges against Hinchberger, Vargo or the 17-year-old, according to Sgt. Chuck Mascellino.

Hinchberger remained Thursday in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bond. Seilhamer said Jackson police do not expect to file charges against Vargo.