SHAMOKIN DAM, Pa. — Police now say the driver involved in a shocking crash last week had what they are calling a "potentially high level of alcohol" in her system.
According to Shamokin Dam police, the driver was intoxicated when she hit at least four vehicles, a utility pole, and a concrete barrier before catapulting onto the roof of the Golden Chopsticks restaurant.
We now have security camera video of the crash in Snyder County as it happened Friday night.
The video from a KFC restaurant shows the SUV speeding along Routes 11 and 15 in Shamokin Dam and, at one point, losing a tire. Then, another camera captured smoke and flames just before the vehicle somehow launched itself on the roof of the Golden Chopsticks restaurant.
According to Shamokin Dam police, Theresa Risso, 42, was intoxicated, driving erratically on Routes 11 and 15 shortly before 6 p.m. Friday.
"There was no pursuit that we're aware of that was north of us. We also checked with the state police and there were no troopers in pursuit of a vehicle," said Shamokin Dam Police Chief Tim Bremigan.
Chief Bremigan says Risso's 1-year-old daughter was in the vehicle strapped in a car seat. The child is fine.
Risso and another person are listed in critical condition at Geisinger. Police are reconstructing the crash, trying to figure out how fast Risso was going.
Bremigan says Risso had a high level of alcohol in her system at the time of the crash.
The Shamokin Dam Police Department is offering counseling services to anyone who was a victim or a witness of this crash.
"It's just offering an opportunity in a group setting to basically talk about the incident," the chief explained.
The counseling services will be done as part of a mental health services grant given to Snyder County for first responders and their families.
Chief Bremigan says people he spoke with have been really affected by this crash.
"I feel that that rises above what the average person is going to see. Not everyone sees a vehicle launched into the air and onto a roof."
Counseling services will be available Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Shamokin Dam Borough building.
Police have not filed charges yet but the chief says they are likely coming
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