WARREN - A Leavittsburg man is facing felony charges stemming from a motorcycle crash last month in which he is accused of having more than four times the legal alcohol limit in his system.
The crash injured a friend who was riding with him.
Bryce K. Edwards, 26, of 4907 Peerless St., entered no plea Friday in Warren Municipal Court on a third-degree felony charge of aggravated vehicular assault with alcohol. He is being held in lieu of a $20,000 bond and a preliminary hearing will be set some time in the next 10 days.
He could face up to three years in prison on the charge.
Police reports state that Edwards was driving his 2000 Kawasaki motorcycle on East Market Street when he started to weave in his lane. He crossed the center lane near York Avenue N.W. and struck a 2003 GMC SUV driven by Terrence D. Eddington of Commerce Avenue N.W., reports state. Eddington swerved to try and avoid the crash, police said.
Both Edwards and Warren Township resident Johnny H. Thomas Jr., 52, 732 Alturra Dr. N.E., were thrown from the motorcycle. Neither wore helmets, police said.
Thomas, who is the listed victim in the criminal charges, suffered a broken left femur and other cuts from the road.
Edwards suffered a cut on his head but had no other major injuries, reports said.
The three people in the SUV were unharmed, police said.
Officers reported Edwards smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred. Reports said he told officers he had a few drinks at his home before riding the motorcycle. He said he was at home drinking before he went to the Raider Lounge to play pool. Thomas then asked him if he wanted to take a "joy-ride" and the two left, the police report states.
Edwards said Thomas was speaking to him and he took his eyes off the road, which caused him to swerve into the on-coming lane, the report states.
A witness told police she saw the motorcycle leave the Raider Bar and swerve.
Edwards' blood test, reports said, revealed his blood-alcohol content was at .36 percent, more than four times the legal limit of .08 percent.