Hilltown Township Police. Photo by James Short.
A Hatfield man who police said hit another car and sped off in a road rage incident earlier this month has been charged by Hilltown Township Police with misdemeanor accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle.
Andrew Russell, 33, of the 2000 block of School Road, was charged Aug. 9 for an incident that occurred June 3 at the Hilltown Crossings Shopping Center, 1515 Bethlehem Pike, Hilltown, police said.
Police were called to the center on June 3 for a report of a hit-and-run accident involving a blue Tesla. The victim told police he had turned right into the shopping center, when an apparent road rage incident occurred with the driver of the Tesla, identified as Russell, police said.
Police said Russell drove onto a median and struck the victim’s car from the rear, damaging the driver side rear bumper. Russell, police allege, fled the scene at a high speed through the shopping center.
Using surveillance video, police tracked the 2023 Tesla to its registered owner, identified as Russell, per the complaint. Upon arrival to Russell’s home an hour after the incident, police said the Tesla was pulled in forward under a carport, with a silver Subaru parked directly in front of the Tesla in order to obscure it.
Police found damage on the front bumper, per the complaint.
Police said Russell identified himself as the owner of the Tesla and told police he “reacted” when the victim gave him the middle finger. He admitted to striking the curb, which caused a gash to the front driver side rim of the Tesla wheel, police said.
Russell is accused of fleeing the scene of an accident and not stopping or contacting police in a reasonable amount of time, per the affidavit.
On June 17, an appointment was made for Russell to turn himself in, police said. A summons was issued on Aug. 9 and accepted by Russell on Aug. 14, per court records.
A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 17 at 2:15 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
