Charges filed in Cranberry Township hit-and-run that left man seriously hurt

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Cranberry Township police charged the driver in the hit-and-run crash Channel 11 told you about last month that seriously injured a man with autism.

“I’m glad they finally charged the individual who did it. We still struggle wondering why you would hit someone and keep going down the road,” the victim’s step-dad, Jay Wasko, said.

Tayden, 28, is recovering at home after he was hit by a car the morning of Nov. 13 while walking to work along Franklin Road. The driver kept going. Tayden was taken to the hospital after a neighbor found him on the side of the road.

Wasko said Tayden suffered a fractured skull, brain bleed and other injuries.

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“It’s going to be a long road to recovery, we are talking six months to a year. Most of it’s memory getting stable and being able to walk,” Wasko said.

Today, Cranberry Township police charged the driver, Georgetta Coleman of Sarver, with careless driving, driving under suspension and in an accident involving injuring while not properly licensed.

Police say they used traffic cameras to quickly identify the car – after they found pieces of Coleman’s Kia Sportage on scene.

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“After that we were able to find a license plate and interviewed the driver who admitted to striking something that she believed was a deer. That’s why she left the scene,” Lt. Chuck Mascellino said.

The family says she should have stopped and police agree. The family has this message for the driver:

“I hope they feel remorse because this is a long road to recovery if our son fully recovers,” Wasko said.

The family said they appreciate the support they’ve received from the community. Channel 11 was told the driver turned herself in, was arraigned and released on nonmonetary bond.

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