MERCER TWP — A busy road was closed for more than two hours Thursday after state police were called to a Route 8 home for a man reportedly chasing his son with an ax.

But when troopers got there shortly before 11 a.m., they found no one at the house, prompting concern that someone could be holed up inside.

Later, however, police found the father at a fast-food restaurant several miles away. Troopers still have not located the alleged victim, police said this morning.

Investigators acknowledged that alcohol may have been at the root of the incident, which caused a headache for motorists as well as police.

“Route 8 was closed for 2 to 3 hours because of this,” said Sgt. Patrick Sarnese of the Butler barracks.

At 10:38 a.m., 28-year-old Robert P. Crawford called 911 to report a domestic at his house in the 4100 block of Route 8 where he lives with his father, 56-year-old Robert P. Crawford Jr.

“He said, 'Dad's chasing me with an ax,'” Sarnese recounted. The phone then went dead.

Police in 10 minutes were there and surrounded the home but no one answered the door. Troopers tried to make contact with anyone inside but to no avail.

The elder Crawford later was tracked down at a burger joint in nearby Barkeyville. He admitted arguing with his son but denied chasing him with an ax.

Back at the house with the father, police found no ax and the inside of the home appeared in order.

Police, nonetheless, charged Crawford Jr. with terroristic threats.

But Sarnese said investigators still want to speak to Crawford III.

Route 8, meanwhile, did not reopen until after 1:15 p.m.

Slippery Rock and Harrisville volunteer firefighters assisted police at the scene.