Lucas Gardner is accused by police of fleeing a crash scene with two injured children. (submitted)

A driver under the influence of narcotics hit a telephone pole and abandoned the car on a Codorus Township road before taking off with two injured children, according to state police.

Lucas Aaron Gardner, 26, of the 400 block of York Street, Hanover, is now free after posting $50,000 bail on an assortment of driving under the influence, child endangerment and motor vehicle charges.

According to state police, Gardner crashed into the pole just after 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at Sinsheim Road, near Wilkins Lane.

After the crash, Gardner left the car sitting in the travel lane and fled in another car with the children, ages 5 and 2, police said. The children were later found inside Gardner's home in Hanover and taken to Hanover Hospital to be treated for injuries. One was transferred to Hershey Medical Center for further treatment, police said.

Gardner was watching his girlfriend's children at the time of the crash, police said.

State police had arrived at the scene to find a white Honda Accord with blood on the driver's side airbag and an estimated 100 feet of skid marks leading up to the pole, according to court records.

Two witnesses told police that the man driving the Honda got two children out of the wreckage and drove away in another vehicle.

Police traced the registration of the car that left the scene to Crystal Lynn Lecrone. State police contacted Lecrone, who said she took Gardner and the children to Gardner's home, about 10 miles away,

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according to court records. Lecrone was passing by the crash scene and had offered to help, police said.

Lecrone told police Gardner had an injured right eye and was bleeding from the mouth and face, according to court records. State police found Gardner at his home and determined he did not have a valid Pennsylvania driver's license and had a suspended license in Maryland.

Gardner initially denied but later admitted to driving the crash vehicle, police said.

As Gardner pointed out that the children involved in the crash were inside his home, police noted that he appeared under the influence of a controlled substance.

Gardner later admitted he took narcotics - Percocet and Oxycotin, according to police.

He told police that at the time of the crash the 5-year-old girl was in the front seat with a seatbelt while the 2-year-old boy was in a booster seat. Police say the children were not properly secured. The girl had a bruised chest and bump on her head. The boy was believed to have broken ribs.

Police are continuing with the investigation.


THE CHARGES

Lucas Aaron Gardner was charged with: driving under the influence of a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of children, accidents involving personal injury, accidents involving personal injury while not properly licensed, accidents involving damage to attended property, drivers required to be licensed, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving on roadways laned for traffic, careless driving, reckless driving, accidents involving damage to unattended property, failure to immediately notify police of accident and restraint systems.