Schuylkill County Man Charged in June Gordon Nagle Trail Crash That Injured Eight; Police Say Driver Was Under the Influence of Multiple Substances

A Branchdale man is facing a long list of felony and misdemeanor charges after Pottsville Police concluded an extensive investigation into a June 12, 2025 crash that left eight people injured, including several with life-altering injuries.
Charges were formally filed on December 4, 2025, against Noah James Shaak, 27, for his alleged role in the head-on collision along the 800 block of the Gordon Nagle Trail. Shaak was arraigned on December 9th by Magisterial District Judge James Reiley and released on $50,000 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 26, 2026.

Shaak faces 24 counts, including: Three counts of Aggravated Assault by Vehicle While DUI (F2)

• Three counts of DUI involving controlled substances (M1)
• Six counts each of Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2) and Simple Assault (M2)
• Possession of a Small Amount of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia
• Reckless and Careless Driving, Driving at an Unsafe Speed, and Lane Violations

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, emergency crews were dispatched around 6:06 p.m. on June 12th for a multi-vehicle crash involving a GMC Sierra pickup, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a Chevrolet Malibu towing a trailer. When officers arrived, Shaak’s 2017 GMC Sierra was heavily damaged and on fire. The Jeep and the trailer were also severely damaged, with vehicle debris strewn across the roadway.

Witness accounts and physical evidence showed that Shaak’s northbound pickup drifted into the southbound lane, forcing the Malibu off the roadway and striking its trailer before continuing into oncoming traffic and colliding head-on with the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Police say a passenger in the Sierra told investigators that Shaak had taken Xanax about 90 minutes before the crash and had been dozing off, experiencing mood swings, and swerving between lanes. The passenger stated they did not believe Shaak was capable of driving safely.

Eight people were hurt in the crash — six riding in Shaak’s pickup despite the vehicle having only five seats.

Shaak and two passengers were flown to trauma centers with serious injuries. Three additional passengers in his truck were transported by ambulance with moderate injuries, and the drivers of both the Jeep and the Malibu were also hospitalized.

Follow-up interviews revealed significant long-term injuries, including:

• Jeep driver: right ankle/foot fracture requiring surgery; 4.5 months out of work; head wound closed with a staple.
• Rear seat passengers: facial fractures, ongoing knee issues, arm bruising, concussions with lingering symptoms such as dizziness and light sensitivity.
• Front seat passenger: the most seriously injured — shattered left arm and leg requiring surgical repairs with permanent hardware, punctured lung, broken ribs, and ongoing mobility issues requiring use of a walker.
• Malibu driver: ongoing lower back and left knee pain receiving continued treatment.

During the crash investigation, police located a bag of suspected marijuana in plain view inside Shaak’s vehicle. A later search uncovered an empty methadone bottle, an empty clonazepam bottle — both prescribed to Shaak and Shaak’s phone.

A toxicology report from HNL Labs dated July 2, 2025 showed Shaak had multiple controlled substances in his bloodstream, including:

• Methamphetamine
• Amphetamine
• Clonazepam and its metabolite
• Methadone
• Midazolam
• Delta-9 THC and Delta-8 THC

Police say the combination of substances indicated impairment and an inability to safely operate a vehicle.

Following the completion of the investigation, police requested an arrest warrant, citing the severity of the crash, the number of victims, Shaak’s alleged impairment, and corroborating witness statements.

Shaak is currently free on unsecured bail pending his January 26th preliminary hearing before MDJ Reiley.