After weeks of noise and aggressive driving complaints, two Pottsville men are facing criminal charges for illegally street racing through the city late at night.
Pottsville Police say the men were allegedly speeding down Mahantongo Street for multiple blocks without pausing at stop signs, driving up to 70 mph in 25 mph zones.
Donivan Emeka Eddie Collazo, 19, is charged with 19 different counts, including a misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person and summary offenses for duties at a stop sign, illegal racing, lighting violations and failure to drive on the right side of the road.
Jonathan Rivera Hernandez, 20, is also charged with a misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person and similar summary offenses, including duties at a stop sign and illegal racing. Hernandez is additionally charged with driving without registration or a valid driver’s license.
According to an affidavit, police responded to one of multiple complaints in the last few weeks about “loud exhaust, speeding and aggressive driving” around the 300 block of Mahantongo Street at 12:39 a.m. on May 29.
Police first observed the two cars — a maroon Subaru Impreza and a gray Infiniti Sedan — heading eastbound at the intersection of Mahantongo and 15th streets. Collazo was driving the Subaru with a passenger and Hernandez was driving the sedan. After a few blocks, police were able to conduct traffic stops.
Dash cam footage obtained from the Infiniti confirmed that the two cars had been passing each other on single lane two-way roads, driving at night without headlights and speeding through stop signs. Collazo and Hernandez had been doing this on-and-off since 11 p.m. that night.
At the traffic stop, Collazo allegedly denied these actions and was released from the scene.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for both men for July 13 before Magisterial District Judge James Reiley.