A Pittsfield man has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and related charges stemming from a Sept. crash in Columbus Twp.

Austin L. Jewell, 30, entered the plea before Judge Gregory Hammond to charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, DUI, careless driving and passing where prohibited.

In exchange for the plea, a count of DUI and eight additional traffic violations were not prosecuted.

The crash occurred at 8:12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, on Route 6 at Whites Corners Road.

According to police, Jewell was driving a black Dodge Charger westbound on Route 6 at a high rate of speed.

“He was passing vehicles as he approached them, with no regard to whether it was legal or safe,” police said in the affidavit of probable cause. “(He) carelessly passed multiple cars in a no-passing zone. As the defendant approached the intersection of Route 6 and Whites Corners Road, he entered the eastbound land to pass a vehicle. This area specifically had multiple intersections, a curve, a crest of a hill, and an underpass/tunnel and is a no-passing area.”

While in the eastbound lane, Jewell’s vehicle struck an oncoming vehicle, police said. The driver of that vehicle suffered a broken neck, lacerations to the head and face requiring more than 50 stitches, required surgery on the night of the crash, and “will need more surgeries in the future to correct injuries sustained in the crash.”

After that crash, Jewell’s vehicle “continued to travel on the road for several hundred feet in an uncontrolled manner,” police said.

“He struck another vehicle containing more victims – no injuries” then Jewell’s car struck an embankment and rolled three times.

Witnesses told police Jewell was the only occupant of the vehicle and that he asked, “Where are we?” when he got out of the car, according to the affidavit.

Troopers alleged in the affidavit that Jewell’s blood alcohol content was .163, more than double the legal limit.

District Attorney Rob Greene said during plea court that there were two victims in this case, one of which sustained “serious personal injury.”

Hammond told Jewell that the most serious charge – aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI – carries a maximum penalty of 10 years incarceration and a fine up to $25,000.