Hollis Ross, 68, of Collegeville, was seen driving a sedan across several Casement Street lawns at about 1 p.m. Sunday. He hit an SUV belonging to his estranged wife that was parked in her driveway, according to police reports. After the crash, Ross got out of his car and began striking the SUV’s windshield with a hammer, police say.
The woman’s two adult children were standing in the driveway at the time. The two “narrowly escaped being struck by the vehicle by diving into bushes and plantings that are along the driveway,” Detective Mark Cappelli said in a press release. Police believe that Ross intended to hit the two based on their investigation at the scene, police say.
Another pedestrian who was not involved in the incident was also near the path of Ross’s car as he drove through the area, according to police reports. Ross admitted that he had been drinking that day, police say. He also failed field sobriety tests at the scene, according to the police report.
Ross also had an active protective order issued by Pennsylvania ordering him to stay away from the victims, police say. Once officers arrived he surrendered without further problems, according to the arrest report.
Ross was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted first-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief, driving under the influence of alcohol, violation of an out of state protective order and a breach of the peace. He was held on $500,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in court Monday.
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