MORGANTOWN — A man is in jail after he allegedly fled the scene of an accident that injured three, including a 9-month-old baby.
According to a criminal complaint, Joseph James Shenay, 37, of Myrtle Beach, S. C., hit another vehicle on Chestnut Ridge Road, near Van Voorhis Road, Saturday.
The complaint alleges Shenay immediately drove away.
Debra K. Bertalan and both of her passengers, one of which was a 9-month-old baby were injured, the complaint states.
Shenay’s driver’s license is suspended and he has two previous arrests for driving with a suspended license in South Carolina in October 2017 and April 2018, according to the complaint.
A metal case with a used syringe and a small metal container with a liquid Shenay told police was heroin was found in his vehicle, the complaint states.
Shenay said he used the heroin before he drove and Deputy E. Mongold, a drug recognition expert, evaluated Shenay and determined he showed “significant indicators” of impairment, according to the complaint.
Magistrate Sandy Holepit arraigned Shenay in Monongalia County Magistrate on Sunday and set his bond at $40,000.
Shenay faces charges of unlawfully leaving the scene of an accident, possession of a controlled substance, DUI with injury and third or subsequent driving while license suspended or revoked.
As of Monday afternoon bond was not posted and Shenay was in North Central Regional Jail.
