A Nesquehoning man is facing charges after a reported high-speed crash that closed Route 54 in the borough Wednesday night and early Thursday.

The road was reopened just before 8:30 a.m.The incident began at 10:39 p.m. Wednesday when Nesquehoning officer Timothy Wuttke was dispatched to a crash along Route 54 near Ametek.Wuttke said a black Dodge Neon with heavy driver's side damage was blocking the westbound lane of travel, facing south.A man, later identified as Jason Bianco, 24, of 64 W. Garibaldi Ave., Nesquehoning, was lying on the ground next to the vehicle with another man, later identified as Shawn McHose of Nesquehoning, and woman, Mari Cheidig, standing over him. Cheidig told police she came upon the crash and called 911.Bianco appeared to be attempting to get up but was unable to, police said.McHose, who was a passenger in the car, told police the pair were out for a ride when Bianco, the driver, lost control.He said following the crash Bianco got out of the car and collapsed.The Neon struck a PPL pole, knocking out about a 6-foot section. As a result wires were hanging low in the area. PPL was called to replace the pole.At the scene, police noticed that Bianco smelled of alcohol, and Bianco, who was not yet identified, admitted that he drank approximately five beers. He then said he did not want to speak to police.High speed reportedJohn Kovatch IV told police at the scene that he was standing outside his business when he noticed the Neon leave the area of the Top Star gas station and head west on Route 54 at approximately 100 mph. Wuttke noted in his report that Kovatch is a race car driver and has a good judgment of speed.Fire crews later identified the driver as Bianco.Wuttke approached Bianco and again asked what happened. Bianco, whose eyes were shut, responded that he didn't want to talk to police. When he noticed Wuttke, he asked if he could speak with him alone.Bianco became combative with medical and fire personnel, police said.Again Bianco asked if he could speak with Wuttke alone, but Wuttke said that it was not possible at the time because he needed medical attention for his injuries.Wuttke also asked if Bianco would submit to a chemical test because of the alcohol smell and he did not respond.Bianco was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital- Cedar Crest as a result of his injuries.Souped-up carMcHose told Wuttke that he received a call from Bianco, who just finished souping up his vehicle and wanted to go for a ride. McHose agreed and Bianco picked him up at his residence.The pair traveled west on Route 54 and Bianco began speeding to show McHose how fast the car could go.They then turned onto Park Avenue, traveled to the railroad tracks that intersected Park and Industrial avenues and turned around and headed back to Route 54.Once back on Route 54, McHose told police that Bianco gunned it again and was traveling east at a high rate of speed when, as he was passing Ametek, he shifted from third to fourth gear and accelerated.At that time, the car began to slide and Bianco lost control, impacting with the PPL pole. Neither Bianco nor McHose were seat belted during the crash and both were thrown into the rear seat.McHose was able to get out on his own and Bianco crawled out. McHose told police that he had two beers, but did not realize that Bianco had been drinking.After Wuttke took McHose's statement, he inspected the vehicle, which had sustained heavy damage on the driver's side with the front tire missing. The tire was later found approximately 500 feet away on the railroad tracks.At the time he noticed that the inspection sticker and Pennsylvania registration were expired. Wuttke later found that the license plate on the vehicle was expired and that Bianco's license was under suspension as a result of a previous DUI.Further investigation confirmed McHose's story. Police said that after impacting the pole, the car went airborne briefly before landing back on the road, spinning an additional five times before coming to rest.Route 54 was shut down between Ametek and Kovatch early Thursday morning as a result of the crash, so police could conclude the investigation and PPL crews could work on fixing the pole.Police said the skid from the Neon measured 422 feet, 2 inches until impact with the PPL pole.Then the car appeared to go airborne for 82 feet, 11 inches before landing and traveled an additional 264 feet, 1 inch while spinning clockwise.The total area of the crash scene was 686 feet, 9 inches.Salisbury Township police were sent to Lehigh Valley Hospital to meet the helicopter and complete a blood test on Bianco.Police said charges will be filed against Bianco pending blood test results.