Police: Butler man involved in wrong-way Route 422 crash had meth in system
A Butler man who crashed into a tractor trailer while driving the wrong way on Route 422 in Summit Township and saw more than $3,000 raised via a fundraiser had methamphetamine in his system during the crash, police said.
Jason Curry, 48, was charged Wednesday, Oct. 8, with one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence and reckless endangerment following the April 15 crash.
Police said “due to the unexplainable nature of the crash,” a search warrant for Curry’s blood was granted April 17. It came back May 21 showing positive results for methamphetamine, police said.
“A DUI is a blanket statement,” Curry said in a Tuesday, Oct. 14, interview. “Makes people think you’re driving while drunk or high. There’s different reasons something is in your system. What they did find was a negligent amount of something considered a controlled substance. The numbers show it was barely in my system, even at that point.”
Police said Curry had about 10 nanograms per milliliter of blood of methamphetamine in his system with a margin of error of 3 nanograms per milliliter of blood.
Curry said he suffered brain trauma, broken vertebrae, a broken hip, five broken ribs, 12 fractures in his arm, tore all the ligaments in his right knee and was in a coma for eight days.
Curry said he has been off from work for two years to take care of his father, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
“Was on my way to the ER for a medical condition, I’m told,” Curry said, “and can’t remember the day.”
Police interviewed the tractor trailer driver who said the Dodge Magnum was traveling the wrong direction down Route 422 at around 55 mph. The driver said Curry’s vehicle was traveling on the center line, and he could not safely avoid the collision.
Police also interviewed two witnesses to the crash. One witness said Curry’s vehicle did not try to slow down before the collision. When the witness and a paramedic approached Curry, they saw he was not wearing a seat belt, police said.
The effects of methamphetamine typically last from eight to 24 hours, according to American Addiction Centers. It said urine tests can detect methamphetamine within 72 hours of usage, and the detection interval for a blood test is smaller than for a urine test.
“I wasn’t high at the time,” Curry said.
The GoFundMe created by a relative to help cover his medical bills raised $3,350, and stated the bills already had surpassed a $50,000 insurance payout.
The crash occurred just before 2 p.m. after multiple callers reported a vehicle traveling the wrong direction down Route 422 eastbound. Police said they arrived to find Curry’s Dodge Magnum and a Volvo VNL tractor trailer damaged. Curry was already being extricated by EMS, according to the affidavit.
Curry’s preliminary hearing is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 25 before District Judge Lewis Stoughton.
