BUCKHANNON – An Upshur County man was arrested this weekend after allegedly pulling the steering wheel, causing a vehicle to crash and injuring the driver.

Logan M. Shannon, 22, of Buckhannon, was arrested for unlawful assault, a felony.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer trooper Z.M. Lewis with the Buckhannon detachment of the West Virginia State Police, on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, at approximately 7 p.m., Lewis received a call from Upshur County E911 Communication Center in reference to a single-vehicle crash in the area of Stoney Run Road in Buckhannon.

Upon arriving on scene, Lewis observed a silver Subaru Legacy in a ditch on the righthand side of the road. Lewis saw a female, still in the driver’s seat, complaining of chest pain, and Lewis was advised the driver was approximately 24 weeks pregnant. A witness on scene advised Lewis the vehicle was steered into the ditch on purpose by the passenger and fiancée of the driver, the police report says.

Lewis saw the male, later identified as Shannon, outside of the vehicle, Lewis wrote in the police report. Shannon allegedly appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and when asked if he had consumed alcoholic beverages, Shannon reportedly said he had consumed a few, according to the complaint.

Lewis approached Shannon with the claim of him pulling the steering wheel.

“However, Shannon did not fully admit to it, but he did admit to being in an argument with the victim,” the file says.

After the victim was extricated from the vehicle on a backboard with apparent injuries, Lewis asked her what happened. The victim allegedly stated she and Shannon were arguing about returning to a certain location. When Shannon became frustrated that the victim would not turn around, she said he allegedly yanked on the steering wheel, pulling the vehicle into the ditch on the right side of the road. The victim said she was having chest pain due to the accident Shannon had allegedly caused, and she was subsequently taken by ambulance with apparent injuries, according to the complaint.

Once back at the West Virginia State Police Department, Shannon agreed to provide Lewis with a recorded statement. During this statement, Shannon allegedly admitted to pulling on the steering wheel because the victim did not turn the car around. Shannon stated he pulled on it to pull into the apartment complex, the file says.

Upshur County Magistrate Alan Suder set bail at $15,000 cash only, according to the West Virginia Jail & Correctional Facility Authority website.

The penalty for unlawful assault is confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years or confinement in jail for a time period not exceeding 12 months and a fine of up to $500.