A Blairsville man faces charges connected with a car crash at the Conemaugh River on January 21st.
Police say that on January 22nd, a passerby noticed that a vehicle had crashed into the river on the Westmoreland County side across from the river trail and just southeast of Wyotech Park. That prompted search and water rescue teams from both Westmoreland and Indiana Counties to respond. Police were able to identify the car’s owner, whose name was not released in the reports, but when interviewed, she told police that her boyfriend, 21-year-old Mitchell Lee Hillis, had been driving the car as of late.
Police were able to get in contact with Hillis and he admitted to them that he was drinking at home and wanted to visit a friend on Torrance Road, but he fell asleep as he was driving and crashed the car. Hillis said he was able to pull himself out of the car, climb up the embankment and called a relative to drive him home. When he was interviewed on January 22nd, officers smelled alcohol on him, and a breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol level was at .089%, which is over the legal limit.
Hillis faces charges of DUI, abandoning a vehicle on private property, and six other summary traffic offenses. His preliminary hearing before District Judge Mark Billik in Westmoreland County is set for March 24th.
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