A Lansford man has been charged after leading police on a chase on snow-covered roads in Mahoning Township.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police Lehighton barracks, in the case against Jaden Valentini, 21:

At 1:09 p.m. Jan. 20, troopers saw a yellow sedan with a loud exhaust cross the intersection of Route 443 from Mill Road and speed down Fritz Valley Road.

Police followed the vehicle, driven by Valentini, 21, south on Fritz Valley Road.

The car, which had a right rear light burned out, crossed over the double yellow line and a painted white fog line, nearly crashing into a snowbank.

Valentini continued driving erratically onto Pine Hill Road. Troopers activated their lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle.

The car drove down the middle of the roadway, straddling the painted double yellow line, then turned onto Winter Mountain Drive.

The car continued south on Winter Mountain Road at a high rate of speed without pulling over.

The road conditions were unsafe, so police terminated the pursuit on Winter Mountain Drive.

Troopers continued traveling southeast on Winter Mountain Drive for about a mile or more, and saw the sedan crashed against a tree on the side of the road.

Troopers approached the car, which was empty. Additional troopers responded for a search of the area.

The vehicle’s inspection was expired as of September of 2020, and it appeared that someone took a black marker to make the inspection year look to be “21.”

Footprints led from the vehicle’s driver’s side door into the wooded area covered in snow. Troopers followed the footprints into the woods area for about a mile and found Valentini hunched down, lying on his side under a sticker bush.

Troopers said his eyes were red, bloodshot and glassy and his speech was very rapid, quick and thick.

A white powdery residue was smeared under his nostrils. He appeared confused and out of it.

He initially said that he did not use anything on that day, but then said he used methamphetamine a few hours prior to the incident.

Police learned Valentini’s driver’s license was suspended, DUI related, and he was found to have numerous warrants.

Valentini faces charges of fleeing or attempting to elude officer; driving under influence of alcohol/controlled substance, no rear lights, violation sound level, careless driving, reckless driving, disregard traffic lane, driving at unsafe speed, duties at stops signs, operation of vehicle with suspended or revoked license for DUI second offense, operating a vehicle without the required financial responsibility, driving unregistered vehicle, used registration card or plate and was not authorized to do so, failure to use safety belt, and operating vehicle with expired inspection.

He is in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $20,000, 10% bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing March 9 before District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek of Lansford.