Local man found passed out in Jeep, facing possible DUI

PERRY TWP. — A 29year-old Punxsutawney man was placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI after state police found him passed out in the driver’s seat of his 2019 Jeep Cherokee in Jefferson County.

Troopers from the Punxsutawney station said they were on routine patrol and traveling south on Route 36 at its intersection with Sprankle Mills Road around 4:20 a.m. Sunday in Perry Township when they came across the unidentified man in his vehicle.

The Jeep still was in drive, and it took multiple knocking attempts to wake the man up, state police said in a news release.

Troopers said there were several indicators of suspected alcohol-related impairment.

The man was asked to exit the SUV and given a field sobriety test. He was subsequently placed under arrest for suspected DUI.

The investigation is ongoing, and no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.

• A 53-year-old woman was taken to the hospital by medical helicopter after a twovehicle crash Feb. 11 in Pine Creek Township.

State police said Amy Jordan, of Ringgold, was taken by Jefferson County EMS to a nearby landing zone and then flown to UPMC Altoona hospital for treatment.

The driver of the other vehicle, Thomas Elkin, 58, of Punxsutawney, and his passenger, Valentine Yoder, 22, of New Bethlehem, were not injured, state police said.

All three were wearing seatbelts.

Troopers said the crash occurred at 3:10 p.m. on Route 28 at its intersection with Service Center Road in Jefferson County.

Jordan’s 2009 Toyota Rav4 was traveling north on the highway and attempting to turn left onto Service Center Road when it drove in to the path of Elkin’s Ford F250.