A 29-year-old man ingested more than twice what he normally did from a THC vape device before causing a crash on Route 15 in January that injured six people, police said Monday.
Fernando L. Colon-Torres, of Mechanicsburg, was charged with nearly 40 offenses after Upper Allen police said he was involved in a hit-and-run crash at the Capital City Car Wash and drove the wrong way on Route 15 north on Jan. 17.
Police said Colon-Torres ingested THC — the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes the “high” sensation — and drove to a car wash, where he struck a vehicle in the parking lot. He then fled the scene in a red Hyundai Sonata and entered Route 15 north using the wrong ramp from Lower Allen Drive, driving southbound.
While fleeing, Colon-Torres traveled 4.5 miles south in the northbound lanes, exceeding speeds of 105 miles per hour before crashing into multiple vehicles.
Colon-Torres sideswiped a car and then caused a collision with four other vehicles, including a tractor-trailer, police said.
Along with Colon-Torres suffering from multiple “substantial injuries,” three other people were seriously injured and two more were hurt. The injured victims included 6- and 9-year-old boys, according to court documents filed by police.
An affidavit of probable cause written by police gave this account:
After Colon-Torres was released from the hospital, he was interviewed in February, which was when he told police he didn’t remember most of the incident, the affidavit said.
Police said Colon-Torres remembers leaving work and returning to his Upper Allen Township apartment on Jan. 17.
At his apartment, Colon-Torres said he remembers taking four or five hits from his THC vape device, which was twice as much compared to the one or two hits he normally did, the affidavit said.
Police said Colon-Torres remembers driving to the car wash to wash his car, but nothing else after that.
During the collision, Colon-Torres struck a 73-year-old driver in a silver Toyota RAV4 in the right lane and shoulder of Route 15 north, which caused the vehicle to travel onto the shoulder of the highway.
The 73-year-old driver suffered from five broken ribs, a broken sternum, a broken wrist, and a broken heel, the affidavit said.
Police said the 9-year-old boy suffered a substantial laceration to his head and the 6-year-old boy sustained a large contusion to his chest.
Police said Colon-Torres’ vehicle came to rest along the center median after its engine gave out.
Colon-Torres suffered several substantial wounds and was bleeding heavily, the affidavit said. He punched an EMT worker in the face, causing him to fall to the ground, police said. The EMT worker sustained a bloody nose and red bruising on the side of his face.
Court documents said several first responders were needed to assist EMTs as Colon-Torres continued to offer “substantial resistance” while they provided treatment.
A blood sample collected from Colon-Torres found he had THC — the psychoactive compound in marijuana — in his system, the affidavit said.
Colon-Torres is charged with three counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, three counts of DUI, three counts of aggravated assault by vehicle, seven counts of recklessly endangering another person, six counts of accidents involving damage to attended vehicles, five counts of reckless driving and six counts of failing to stop, provide information and render aid.
Additionally, Colon-Torres faces charges of aggravated assault/attempts to cause bodily injury, accidents involving death or personal injury, resisting arrest, simple assault and disorderly conduct.
Online court documents said Colon-Torres is in the Cumberland County Prison after being unable to post his $35,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 24.
The Cumberland County man told police he remembers vaping THC and going to a car wash, but nothing about the 4.5-mile wrong-way journey that ended with multiple injuries and 40 criminal charges. Read More
