Penn. Man Charged with Assault was Involved in Another Road Rage Incident

July 08--The Bernville man charged with assaulting a paratransit ambulance driver outside St. Joseph Medical Center was involved in another road rage incident along Route 183 in October, Bern Township police said.

The suspect Jonathan R. Eshbach Jr., 20, of the 300 block of Main Street, remained at large on Tuesday, police said. Police said that Eshbach's mother indicated that he plans to surrender to authorities later tonight.

He faces charges of aggravated and simple assault and related offenses from the St. Joseph incident on Monday afternoon.

In the October case, Eshbach is accused of ripping the side mirror off a vehicle after an encounter at Route 183 just south of West Leesport Road, according to court records.

According to police, Eshbach was driving his father's truck south on Route 183 at a point where two lanes merge to one. From the right lane, he tried to enter the left lane, and eventually edged so close to another car that he struck the mirror.

He cut in front of the other vehicle and continued driving until a stop sign at the Route 222 interchange. There, according to police, Eshbach got out of the truck, approached the car and shouted at the driver before breaking off the side mirror.

Eshbach was charged with criminal mischief, hit-and-run, careless driving and other offenses. A nonjury trial is scheduled for next month in Berks County Court in that case.

In Monday's incident at St. Joseph, ambulance driver Jason Schrammel of LifeStar Response, Bethlehem, was on his way to the hospital to pick up a patient. LifeStar vehicles provide wheelchair transport, typically for patients going home or to another facility such as a nursing home. The ambulance was not staffed by a paramedic or emergency medical technician.

LifeStar officials were unavailable for comment.

According to police:

Schrammel exited Route 222 at Route 183 and a car registered to Eshbach cut him off. After twice braking in front of the ambulance and forcing the driver to move onto the shoulder, Eshbach followed the ambulance into the hospital parking lot, eventually forcing Schrammel to stop.

A fight ensued, and Eshbach spit in Schrammel's face and punched him. Defending himself, Schrammel kicked Eshbach twice in the ribs and punched him before hospital security intervened. Schrammel suffered an injury to his wrist.

Eshbach was able to get in his car and drive away.

Contact Steven Henshaw: 610-371-5028 or shenshaw@readingeagle.com.

Copyright 2014 - Reading Eagle, Pa.