KITTANNING TWP — Investigators believe alcohol was a factor in a head-on crash early Sunday morning that killed a Ford City man and shut down a major highway in Armstrong County for more than six hours.

Terry R. McClafferty, 37, died in the crash on Route 422 in Kittanning, just west of Cornish Road, state police said.

Armstrong Deputy Coroner Brian K. Myers pronounced McClafferty dead at the scene. Following an autopsy, Myers ruled the cause of death as massive injuries to the abdomen and thorax.

Authorities said McClafferty was westbound on Route 422 about 1:35 a.m. when his Dodge pickup was struck by a Ford pickup that was eastbound on Route 422.

The other driver, Jonathon Brandon Miller, 23, no address given, crossed the double yellow lines of the highway into oncoming traffic, according to a police report.

Authorities said they suspect Miller was drinking before the crash and that alcohol may have been a contributing factor. Police noted that possible charges against Miller are pending the results of toxicology tests.

Armstrong County sheriff’s deputies, Kittanning Ambulance and volunteer firefighters from Kittanning Township, Rayburn and Elderton assisted police at the scene.

The Snyder-Crissman Funeral Home in Kittanning is handling funeral arrangements.