Sleeping driver blamed for 3-vehicle crash in College Township

A driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, police said, causing a multiple vehicle crash that injured seven people Saturday afternoon.

According to the crash report obtained from State College police Wednesday, officers responded to the three-vehicle crash at about 11 a.m. along the Benner Pike near Walmart. Police reported that a Chevrolet Blazer driven by Jimmy L. Maynard, 36, of Bellefonte, had been traveling west along Benner in the left-hand eastbound lane.

Maynard reported he had fallen asleep while driving, police said, and didn’t remember passing the Sheetz at the corner of Benner and Shiloh Road.

Gregory Grimes, 57, of Lemont, said a truck in front of him had swerved out of the way just before he saw Maynard’s vehicle in his lane, police said. Grimes had attempted to avoid a collision, police said, but was struck in the rear.

A third vehicle, driven by Parris Smith, 43, of Lemont, attempted to evade the Blazer after Maynard struck Grimes, but was struck head-on by Maynard, police said. All three vehicles suffered disabling damage and were towed from the scene.

Maynard and a passenger in his vehicle both reported injuries and were taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center via EMS, police said. Smith and four passengers in his vehicle also reported injuries and sought treatment at MNMC.

Grimes did not report any injuries, police said. Charges against Maynard are pending the results of a blood test.

This story was originally published January 17, 2018 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Sleeping driver blamed for 3-vehicle crash in College Township."