BUTLER TWP — Alcohol is suspected in a crash early Sunday morning that left a Butler man with life-threatening injuries and sent three other men fleeing the scene, township police said.

Volunteer firefighters had to rescue 27-year-old Keith Reges, who was trapped in the vehicle he was riding in about 12:45 a.m. on Mercer Road.

A medical helicopter later flew Reges to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was admitted in critical condition. His condition was not known this morning.

He was a front seat passenger in the vehicle driven by Matthew Hamersley, 31, of Butler.

Police said Hamersley lost control of the vehicle while traveling north on Mercer Road. The vehicle slid across the southbound lanes and through the intersection with Kresh Lane.

The vehicle’s passenger side slammed into a utility pole.

Hamersley and two back seat passengers — Adam M. Spinner, 25, and Nick Defelice, 23, both of Butler — fled the scene, police said.

Officers responding to the wreck found Hamersley and Defelice a short time later walking down Mercer Road. Defelice, who was hurt in the crash, was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

Police said they suspected Hamersley had been drinking but he refused to take a blood test. Charges against him are pending, police said.

Spinner got away but was nabbed later that day on an arrest warrant.

He was arraigned Sunday night on charges in the warrant stemming from a shoplifting incident Oct. 24 in the township. Those charges are retail theft, conspiracy, driving with a suspended license-DUI related and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Spinner was placed in Butler County Prison on $2,500 bail following arraignment.

On Monday, District Judge Pete Shaffer arraigned Spinner on a misdemeanor theft charge in an unrelated case Feb. 23 in Butler.

Police, meanwhile, said the crash remains under investigation. State police accident reconstruction specialists are assisting.