Man charged with multiple counts of DUI
A Palmerton man has been charged with multiple counts of DUI after he blacked out and crashed his vehicle.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Dane O’Brien of the Palmerton Borough Police Department:
At 6:04 p.m. Aug. 28, O’Brien was dispatched to the 1200 block of Third Street for a report of a motor vehicle crash with injuries.
Upon arrival, O’Brien observed two vehicles with heavy front-end damage in the middle of the roadway.
O’Brien made contact with the driver of a maroon 2005 Pontiac Sunfire in the driver’s side seat who was later identified as Cory Techentin, 30.
O’Brien noticed that Techentin was trapped inside the vehicle due to the severity of the impact and complained of pain all over his body.
When O’Brien asked what had occurred, Techentin said that while exiting the Palmerton Memorial Park entrance, he merged onto Third Street traveling southbound and then blacked out.
Techentin said that he’s unsure how fast he was going and what had happened after the fact, and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage.
In addition, an odor of marijuana emitted from the vehicle. Techentin admitted to drinking an unknown amount of beer earlier in the afternoon and last smoked marijuana within the past day or so.
Once Techentin was removed from the vehicle, a search was conducted and found were one multicolor rubber pipe containing burned green vegetable matter, as well as a cellophane bag containing green vegetable matter from the vehicle’s center console.
The recovered matter later tested positive for marijuana.
Once Techentin was extricated by fire, he was then transported by EMS to Lehigh Valley Hospital — Cedar Crest Campus for treatment.
A blood test yielded a result of 0.16% BAC. In addition, methamphetamine, marijuana and their metabolites were present as well.
Techentin faces charges on five counts of DUI, careless driving, and driving on right side of roadway.
He is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Dec. 18 before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton.
