Pennsylvania woman drove into oncoming traffic to ‘test her faith,’ police say

A Pennsylvania woman was arrested after allegedly driving into oncoming traffic and hitting a car with three passengers to “test her faith,” according to an affidavit from Pennsylvania State Police.

A week later, a judge revoked her bail because he considered her a threat to herself and the community, according to court documents.

Nadejda Reilly, 51, told Pennsylvania State Trooper Bruce Balliet on January 7 that she was driving on a local route for several hours waiting for a “calling from God.” When she saw a car driving on the opposite side of State Route 93, she allegedly “wanted to test her faith by driving through the vehicle,” according to the affidavit.

She then drove her 2017 Kia Optima into the opposing lane of traffic and struck the car, the affidavit said.

Reilly and two injured victims were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton, according to Trooper David Peters. It is unclear the extent of their injuries, Peters said, adding that a third person in the car was not injured.

One of the adults in the crash was treated and released, said Brian Downs, a public information officer for Lehigh Valley Health Network. The other victim taken to the hospital was a 14-year-old girl, Peters said. Downs could not confirm any information about the girl.

Reilly was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment along with several traffic charges related to the crash, according to court documents.

“Reilly related God took care of her by not letting her injured,” Bailliet wrote in the affidavit. “Reilly expressed no concern or remorse for the victims. Reilly also stated she did not care if the other people were injured because God would have taken care of them.”

Reilly was originally granted bail at $50,000, but Judge Joseph D. Homanko Sr. revoked it last Wednesday, according to court documents. The judge stated in court that based on the allegations, his reasoning on revoking the bail was to protect the community and to ensure that Reilly received help that was required for her care, according to Reilly’s attorney, Andrew Theyken Bench.

Bench declined to comment further on the case.