Condition update
DANVILLE - Damian Konopka, 42, of Shamokin, remained in critical condition Sunday afternoon, recovering from injuries suffered in a car crash Saturday along Route 61 near the Plumbing Outlet in Coal Township.
Township police reported at the scene that Konopka was traveling north on Route 61 when, for an unknown reason, he crossed both sets of lanes and sideswiped a 2009 Subaru Forester, driven by Theresa Orner, 47, of Kulpmont. Orner's vehicle was at the entrance to Route 61 off Main Street in Ranshaw.
Following the initial hit, Konopka's vehicle traveled approximately 275 yards through the west wooded berm of Route 61 before coming to a final rest near the business and other structures.
The impact of the crash uprooted a tree on the side of the road.
DUI charges filed
RIVERSIDE - State police charged Calvin D. Forrester Jr., 47, of 171 Almond Lane, Wilkes-Barre, with two counts of driving under the influence and careless driving, the result of a traffic stop at 5:16 a.m. Aug. 2, on Sunbury Road.
Trooper Nicholas Berger of the Stonington barracks reported in court documents that he and another officer were called for a report of a disabled motorist, and found Forrester parked in a field with his four-way flashers on. Forrester told police that he stopped on the side of the road and when he went to pull out, got stuck.
After failing a preliminary breath test, Forrester was transported to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville for blood testing. The results came back that his blood alcohol level at the time was .13 percent.
The charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones, of Mount Carmel, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 15.