A man was seriously injured Wednesday morning after he fell asleep while driving on Route 309 in Hometown.According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville, the crash occurred around 8:30am, Wednesday, on Route 309/Claremont Avenue in Hometown, Rush Township near the intersection with Lafayette Avenue.
Police say Patrick Fay, 35, of Freeland was operating a Kia Optima heading southbound on Route 309 and approached the intersection with Route 54.
A second vehicle, a Freightliner Box Truck, operated by Kevin Gillett, 36, of Scranton was stopped at the red light.
Police say Fay fell asleep as he approached the intersection, woke up just before the crash, hit his brakes, but it was too late. Fay crashed into the rear of the box truck.
Fay struck the windshield and was reported to not be wearing his seatbelt and his airbags never deployed.
Fay was transported by Tamaqua Ambulance to Saint Luke's in Coaldale with serious injuries.
Gillett and a passenger were not injured.
Fay will be cited for careless driving.
Assisting at the scene were the Hometown Fire Company, Tamaqua Ambulance, and Lehighton Ambulance.