CLEARFIELD – A Morrisdale man is being accused of striking and seriously injuring another man while operating his utility terrain vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Garret William Anderson, 23, is charged by Trooper Austin D. Woolcock of the Clearfield-based state police with felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI; two misdemeanor counts of DUI; and six summaries.
Anderson had all charges held to county court for further disposition following a preliminary hearing Wednesday. Bail is currently set at $10,000 unsecured.
The charges stem from a UTV crash at approximately 9:39 p.m. July 25 along Pottersdale Road in Karthaus Township, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge Jerome Nevling.
Upon arrival at the scene, it was learned a male who was struck by an UTV, driven by Anderson, was taken by ambulance to a landing zone from which he was flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Altoona.
During an interview with state police, Anderson confirmed he was the operator of the UTV. Woolcock also reportedly detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from Anderson, and noticed he also had blood-shot eyes.
When asked how many drinks he’d consumed, Anderson reportedly said “a few.” Woolcock administered field sobriety and preliminary breath testing, which showed Anderson was under the influence of alcohol.
Anderson was subsequently taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and transported to the Clearfield barracks for a legal breath sample. It showed his blood-alcohol content was 0.158 percent, according to the affidavit.
Later July 25, Woolcock interviewed the victim’s son who said he was traveling west on Pottersdale Road when he witnessed Anderson’s UTV overturn onto its side. Both he and his father stopped their vehicles, and helped Anderson put his UTV in an upright position.
He said he resumed traveling west but when he noticed his father wasn’t behind him, he turned around to make sure everything was OK. When he arrived back on-scene, he found his father lying in the middle of the roadway and Anderson trying to assist him.
On Aug. 2, Woolcock spoke with the victim who reportedly said he didn’t remember any details of the crash due to head trauma. He also reported he had several broken ribs and a broken back, as well as 12 staples in the back of his head and road rash about his body.
