Driver Charged with Aggravated Assault for Crash That Closed Part of South Atherton Street

The driver who police say caused a multi-vehicle crash on Tuesday morning that shut down part of South Atherton Street in State College has been charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors, including aggravated assault.

Letra A. Renninger, 28, of State College, was traveling southbound on South Atherton Street at about 10:15 a.m. and intentionally drove into three northbound vehicles near the intersection with South Allen Street, borough police wrote in a news release on Tuesday afternoon. Renninger then continued southbound until running into the back of a tractor-trailer in the parking lot of Faccia Luna, 1229 S. Atherton St.

“The incident resulted in several minor injuries and disabling damage to all the vehicles, except for the tractor trailer,” according to the release. Atherton Street was closed between Westerly Parkway and Pugh Street for about three hours for investigation and clean up.

Renninger was charged with seven felony counts of aggravated assault, three misdemeanor counts each of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person and felony and misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief.

Renninger was arraigned before District Judge Kelley Gillette Walker, who denied bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 14.

The Centre Region crash reconstruction team, Alpha Fire Police, Halfmoon Towing and Centre LifeLink EMS assisted State College police at the scene.

Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to contact the State College Police Department at (814) 234-7150, by email or by submitting an anonymous tip online.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.