A 35-year-old Jefferson Township man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly striking a woman with his vehicle while under the influence in Roaring Brook Township. The incident occurred on Griffin Road, where Lackawanna County police arrived to find several bystanders assisting a woman lying on the shoulder of the road. She was rushed to a nearby hospital with numerous injuries.
The driver, identified as Edward Stranko, initially told investigators that he was blinded by the sun and unable to see the pedestrian. According to the police report, after Stranko exited his vehicle to check on the victim, the car rolled down an embankment and crashed into a house. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered alcohol, crystal methamphetamine, and marijuana. Stranko has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI), recklessly endangering another person, and several related offenses.
