Man Fell Asleep at the Wheel in Route 6 Crash

COUDERSPORT – Police say 75-year-old Richard Wennerstrom, of Port Allegany, fell asleep at the wheel of his 2005 Chevrolet Solverado yesterday, while driving on Route 6.

The accident happened as Wennerstrom was traveling near the Rainbow Paradise Fish Hatchery in Sweden Township. After falling asleep, Wennerstrom’s truck left the road on the northern side, and then hit an embankment, before rolling on to it’s side.

Both Wennerstrom and his passenger, 71-year-old Judith Wennerstrom, were initially reported to be trapped inside the truck, but both were eventually able to free themselves from the wreck.

Police say the driver of the truck was uninjured, but his passenger was transported to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for observation of chest and back pain.

The truck sustained moderate front-end and driver’s side damage and was towed from the scene by Kightlinger Motors.

Wennerstrom will be cited by State Police with Careless Driving.

Police were assisted at the scene by Coudersport Fire and Ambulance.