On March 1, 2023, at approximately 5:38 pm, Chambersburg Police Department received a dispatch to the 500 block of Woodstock Road for a report of a vehicle that had collided with a utility pole. Upon arrival at the scene, police officers discovered that the driver, Shane A. Hockenberry Jr., was operating the vehicle with two juveniles as passengers. One of the juveniles was not secured in a booster seat at the time of the accident.
After further investigation, Hockenberry was taken into custody and charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child in the third degree, one count of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, one count of driving under the influence (DUI), and one summary traffic violation. He was subsequently incarcerated in SCI Smithfield.
The incident is a reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence and the importance of ensuring that children are properly secured while riding in vehicles. The Chambersburg Police Department urges all drivers to be responsible and follow traffic laws, and reminds parents and guardians to ensure that their children are safely secured in booster seats or other appropriate child safety seats.
The police department will continue to enforce traffic laws and hold individuals accountable for reckless and negligent behavior that endangers the safety and well-being of others, especially children.
