PERRRY TWP, Clarion County — Alcohol is suspected in a one-vehicle crash Saturday evening that claimed the life of a 35-year-old Butler County woman in southwestern Clarion County.

Joann Marie Carpenter, 35, of Connoquenessing Township was killed when she was thrown some 25 yards from the sport vehicle utility vehicle she was riding in, state police said.

But authorities did not discover her body, which was hidden in tall grass and weeds, until eight hours after the wreck that happened just after 5 p.m.

The driver, Charles W. Shreffler, 40, of Sligo, who suffered serious injuries, initially claimed he was alone when troopers came upon the wreckage.

Police only became aware that Carpenter had been riding in the vehicle when Shreffler — hours later — asked about her while at the Pittsburgh hospital where he was taken after the crash, investigators said.

Clarion County Coroner Terry Shaffer pronounced Carpenter dead at the scene at 1:05 a.m. Sunday.

“She was well off the road and covered by the weeds,” Shaffer said.

An autopsy determined she died of massive injuries to her head and chest.

Police said Shreffler was eastbound on Route 368 when he lost control of his 2000 Dodge Durango. It hit a utility pole and rolled over several times

Police said a medical helicopter flew Shreffler to UPMC Presbyterian hospital with major injuries.

A police report said driving under the influence is suspected in the crash but it did not indicate if Shreffler had been charged.

The Young Fuenral Home in Butler is handling funeral arrangements.