Driver Charged with Passing School Bus, Reckless Driving; Another Accused of Evidence Tampering

RENOVO – A total of 8 charges, including a summary offense of Meeting or Overtaking a School Bus have been charged to two individuals following a vehicle crash as school was letting out around 2:30 p.m. on Friday November 15.

Renovo Police have filed 7 charges against Gene Eaton, 48 of Renovo, that includes Meeting or overtaking a school bus, resisting arrest and reckless driving, among others.

RPD alleged that Eaton drove his pickup truck at a high rate of speed on 4th Street, passing a school bus with red flashing lights, went through a stop and was unable to make the turn at 4th and Erie next to Sock’s Restaurant.

Eaton’s truck jumped a curb and landed on the railroad tracks. The force of the impact was so strong that the front right wheel fell off of the truck and onto the tracks. Eaton then continued to rev his engine, causing stones to begin flying from behind the vehicle.

Police allege that even with the truck disabled, stones began being forced into the air from the revving engine and were sent flying approximately 25 yards and going through a window at First Commonwealth Bank, which was opened at the time of the incident. Police maintain that Eaton was found to be intoxicated and resisted arrest and trying to flee on foot as Renovo police arrived on scene.

Eaton was taken into custody and committed to the Clinton County Correctional Facility on a probation detainer.

Renovo Police also charged 51 year old Billy Yednak of Renovo with Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence, a misdemeanor 2 offense. Yednak, whose police report had no involvement with the crash itself, alleged that Yednak removed a bottle of vodka from the crashed vehicle and carried it away in an attempt to hide it. The bottle was recovered when police confronted Yednak.