The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

November 13, 2009

UPDATE: Charges filed in crash coverup

Trio are friends of paralyzed teacher

By Matt Snyder

LAKEVIEW AREA — Charges were filed Thursday against friends of the Lakeview school teacher and coach who was paralyzed in a car crash in February. The coach’s injuries were at first falsely reported as being from a fall down icy steps, police said.

Facing the bulk of the charges is Jason R. Lane, 27, 115 N. Market St., New Wilmington, who had charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving drunk, drunken driving, reckless endangering, obstruction of justice, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, and 11 summary violations that included careless and reckless driving and speeding filed before District Judge Lorinda L. Hinch, Mercer.

Two other associates face charges, including Seth C. Bolyard, 22, of 21 Fredonia Road, Coolspring Township, and Katey L. Huling, 22, New Castle, who are both charged with reckless endangerment and obstruction of justice. Bolyard faces additional charges of tampering with evidence, intimidation of victims, and an alcohol violation.

At about 3 a.m. Feb. 21, Lane crashed Ms. Huling’s car on Courtney Road in Findley Township, police said. He had been driving recklessly and bar-hopping, along with Bolyard and Bret Cox.

Cox, a 26-year-old Wilmington Township man who teaches middle school civics and history and coached basketball at Lakeview School District, was made a parapalegic by the accident, police said.

Cox told police he was unconscious for most of the cover-up of the crash. He was moved from the back seat of Ms. Huling’s car and taken to Lane’s apartment, where he recalls waking up to Lane and Ms. Huling touching his lower body, asking if he could feel it. He said he could not.

Bolyard allegedly told Cox that morning, “You need to understand Bret, Jason’s life will be over because of this,” and that he was a teacher, and it would not look good for him.

Cox told police he knew he was probably paralyzed and needed immediate medical attention. He said he agreed to go along with a story that he had fallen down icy stairs because he was convinced Bolyard and Lane did not want to call 911 otherwise.

New Wilmington police arrived at 10:40 a.m. Feb. 21, and Lane reported that they found Cox at the bottom of a snow-covered, exterior wooden staircase of their apartment after a night of drinking, and that they pulled him up and put him on the couch.

Cox reported to police about four days later that he had lied to protect Lane and Bolyard.

Police said the crash was covered up when Lane and Bolyard returned later the same night and got help from two of Lane’s cousins. They used a tractor to pull the wrecked car from the crash scene.

They towed it to a barn on the property of Lane’s mother at 479 New Castle-Mercer Road, Wilmington Township, where police said they found it covered in a blue tarp with the license plate removed.

According to Lakeview Superintendent Frank McClard, Cox continues to teach in the school. He is in a wheelchair and McClard couldn’t say what his prognosis is.

Online court documents indicate Cox has not been charged in the incident.

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