A Palmerton man has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend in front of the victim’s infant while driving.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper Gary Fedor of the Pennsylvania State Police, Lehighton barracks in the case against Andrew Orach:

At 3:52 p.m. Dec. 18, state police responded to the area of Covered Bridge Road at Lower Smith Gap Road, Lower Towamensing Township, for the report of a woman being dragged by a black pickup.

Fedor saw three vehicles parked along the shoulder of the northbound lane of Covered Bridge Road.

Fedor was informed by a witness that the victim was seated in the passenger’s seat so that she could stay warm. The woman’s forehead, eyes, and lip were starting to bruise and were swollen, and she was covered in blood.

There was blood in the snow in the area where the incident occurred.

The victim said that her boyfriend, Orach, 27, became upset with her as he was driving her back from Blue Mountain Ski Area where he was supposed to drop her off for work.

While driving, Orach punched the victim numerous times in the face, causing the injuries.

The victim’s 2-year-old child was in the back seat during this incident.

Orach turned off Lower Smith Gap Road onto Covered Bridge Road and began to swerve off the roadway as he was assaulting the victim.

The victim then opened the passenger side door and jumped out of the vehicle as Orach began to accelerate.

After the victim jumped out of the vehicle, Orach stopped the vehicle, got out and approached the victim, at which time he grabbed her and attempted to drag her back into the vehicle.

Witnesses had stopped and asked the victim if she needed help, which she said she did.

Orach got back into his vehicle and fled the scene at a high rate of speed.

A witness provided the registration for the black truck that Orach drove from the scene.

The victim was transported to St. Luke’s Lehighton Campus for further treatment.

Fedor left the scene and responded to a home in the 2100 block to make contact with Orach.

Upon arrival Fedor observed a black Dodge Ram with in the driveway.

Fedor was not able to make contact with anyone at the residence, but saw blood on the front passenger seat and on a white piece of clothing between the front seats where the victim was seated during the incident.

The vehicle’s inspection expired in November.

Orach faces charges of simple assault; endangering welfare of children; recklessly endangering another person; harassment; operating vehicle without valid driver’s license; disregard traffic lane (single); reckless driving and careless driving.

He is currently incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 monetary bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Dec. 30 before District Judge William J. Kissner of Palmerton.