Irwin man charged for vehicular assault
State police charged an Irwin man Wednesday in connection with a May crash, alleging he was drunk when he crossed into oncoming traffic and seriously injured another driver.
Skyler Guy Zimmerman, 31, faces a felony charge of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence in the 6 a.m. May 14 crash in the 1900 block of Route 136, Somerset Township.
According to the criminal complaint, police arrived to find Zimmerman’s vehicle on its passenger side on the road’s shoulder. The other vehicle was in a field about 20 feet off the road.
Zimmerman allegedly told Ambulance and Chair medics that he crossed the center line and struck the vehicle head-on, but did not say what caused him to do so, according to the complaint.
An EMT told state police that she smelled a strong scent of alcohol on Zimmerman’s breath.
Zimmerman was flown by helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Court documents do not identify the driver of the other vehicle. Police were not able to interview the driver due to the severity of their injuries. That driver was also flown to a Pittsburgh hospital.
Following a blood draw, investigators determined that Zimmerman’s blood alcohol content was 0.152, above the legal limit of 0.08, court documents state.
Zimmerman also faces misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, as well as several summary traffic offenses.
He was arraigned Thursday morning before District Judge Curtis Thompson, who released him on $25,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. July 12.