According to court documents, Brent A. Keiper, 56, of Bartonsville, was charged by the Pennsylvania State Police with several offenses, including reckless endangerment, risking catastrophe, leaving the scene of an accident, and multiple vehicle code violations. The incident occurred on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Police state that at approximately 10:30 a.m., troopers were dispatched to Pottsville Street in Cressona after receiving reports that a utility pole had been struck, causing a nearby business to catch fire. Upon arrival, troopers observed firefighters actively battling a fire inside McGovern Welding and Machine Shop, with smoke billowing from the structure and a utility pole snapped at its base.
Investigators made contact with two victims at the scene, including the business owner, who reported hearing a loud bang before losing power. The owner said he and his daughter were inside the building when smoke began to form shortly after the impact. He told police that when he looked outside, he observed a damaged telephone pole but no vehicle in the area.
A neighborhood canvass led troopers to speak with an employee at a nearby tire shop, who reported that a man entered the business and said he had struck a telephone pole up the road. The employee was unsure where the driver went afterward.
Approximately an hour later, troopers located the suspected vehicle behind the tire shop. Police observed the front driver’s-side tire actively being replaced and noted damage to the truck consistent with striking a utility pole. The driver was identified as Keiper through his driver’s license.
According to police, Keiper admitted he was operating a commercial vehicle when he struck the utility pole. He told troopers that he left the scene to move his truck off the roadway but never returned. Keiper also stated that while he contacted his employer to report the crash, he did not notify police.
Keiper was arraigned Friday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel and committed to Schuylkill County Prison on 10 percent of $10,000 cash bail. He remained incarcerated until Monday morning, when he posted bail and was released.
The charges were filed by a trooper assigned to Pennsylvania State Police Troop L, Schuylkill Haven. The investigation remains on record with state police.