A Schuylkill County man leaving a bush party in Frailey Township crashed head-on into the truck of a man who had responded to the scene, then tore the license plate off his car and ran toward the woods, police say.
Lane Rehrig, 26, of Pine Grove, had a blood-alcohol content of .228 percent after the June 21 crash, according to State Police-Frackville.
A trooper was dispatched around 1:30 a.m. to Fountain Road, south of the Interstate 81 overpass, for a head-on collision. Both vehicles came to rest in the northbound lane.
The victim told police he was responding to an unknown fire in the area, which turned out to be a bush party. When he arrived, he saw several vehicles pulling onto the road from a dirt trail and fleeing. He positioned his truck in the oncoming lane with his blue emergency lights activated, put the truck in park, and stayed inside.
Shortly after, he saw a car coming toward him on Fountain Road and could not react in time, he told police. He was struck head-on. He had scratches from the crash and was taken to a hospital by EMS for a possible lower arm and hand injury.
A witness who was driving by stopped after seeing the crash, before police or EMS arrived. She told police she watched Rehrig take items out of his vehicle, move to the rear and remove his license plate, then start running toward the woods. The witness grabbed Rehrig to stop him, police say. He fell, then decided to stay on scene. She took his keys and handed them to fire personnel. When she returned and spoke with him, Rehrig told her he had been drinking and was already on probation for a previous DUI, she said.
The Trooper found Rehrig standing outside his black Crown Victoria, smoking numerous cigarettes.
Rehrig told the trooper he was trying to get home to avoid any trouble after seeing emergency lights arrive at the party, police say. He said the victim’s truck “came out of nowhere” and that he was unable to avoid it. Asked how much he had to drink, Rehrig first nodded, then said “quite a bit,” police say.
Rehrig continued to smoke heavily during the interview. Asked why he ran from the scene and how his plate was crumpled and removed, Rehrig said both times that he was scared and did not want to be involved on account of his probation for a DUI, police say.
A preliminary breath test indicated a .221 blood-alcohol reading, police say. Toxicology results received June 30 showed he had a BAC of .228 percent, police say.
Rehrig was driving on a suspended license at the time, police say. He was taken to the State Police barracks in Frackville for processing and later released.
State Police filed charges Aug. 26. Rehrig is charged with a third-degree felony count of DUI with a blood-alcohol content of .16 or greater, misdemeanor counts of DUI/unsafe driving and accidents involving death or personal injury while not licensed, and summary counts of driving while his operating privilege was suspended and driving on an expired inspection.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Oct. 8 before Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel.
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