Woman accused of driving 100 mph, striking multiple vehicles near Bellefonte
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Police charged Trista Lawson with 10 offenses after a multi-vehicle crash.
- Lawson claimed hearing the "voice of God" before driving over 100 mph near Bellefonte.
- Authorities seek witnesses to a gray Mazda's erratic driving on East College Ave.
A 36-year-old woman is facing multiple charges after she admitted Tuesday to driving more than 100 mph near Bellefonte and striking multiple vehicles after hearing the “voice of God,” according to the Spring Township Police Department.
Trista Lawson, of St. Louis, Missouri, is facing 10 charges — all misdemeanors and summary offenses — that range from reckless driving to drug-related offenses to accidents involving damage. She was unable to post $25,000 bail Tuesday afternoon and was taken into custody at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
A Spring Township police officer, who was not on scene, told the CDT on Tuesday evening that he was not aware of any serious injuries.
According to township police, which posted the incident on Facebook, officers were dispatched to the 100 block of West College Avenue — in Pleasant Gap, about 2 miles from Rockview state prison — around 2 p.m. due to a crash involving multiple vehicles. Police said when they arrived, they found Lawson trying to flee the scene, in addition to discovering other multiple hit-and-runs were reported from the Zion area on East College Avenue, which leads into Pleasant Gap.
“The description of the vehicle involved in those was the same as one of the vehicles involved in the crash on West College,” the social media post read.
At the scene where police were dispatched, one vehicle was spotted without a rear right tire that stopped just short of a home’s front stoop. Centre County sheriff’s deputies were first on the scene there.
Township police are asking anyone who may have seen a gray Mazda sedan with Missouri plates, driving erratically on East College Avenue, to call them at 800-479-0050.
Lawson’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. July 16, two days after her 37th birthday, in front of Judge Gregory M. Koehle.
