Police: Jeannette man killed in wrong-way, head-on crash near Homer City

A Jeannette man was killed late Thursday night when an Indiana, Pa. man is accused of driving the wrong way on Route 119 near Homer City and crashing into a car in which the victim was riding, state police from Indiana County said.

The victim, Alex A. Booher, 30, was a backseat passenger in the car traveling southbound on Route 119 when it collided at about 11:30 p.m. in Luzerne Township with a northbound car in the same lane.

State police identified the wrong-way driver Elias Lopez Jimenez, 28, of Indiana, Pa.

Booher, who was one of two passengers in a car driven by Christopher A. Sipes, 30, of Greensburg, was transported to Indiana Regional Medical Center, where he died a short time later, Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman said. Booher was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, the coroner said.

Sipes was unable to avoid the head-on collusion with Jimenez’ car in Sipes’ lane, police said. Sipes and his other passenger, Brian R. Myers, 29, of Greensburg, were taken to Indiana Regional Medical Center for treatment of suspected minor injuries, police said.

Police said Jimenez ran from the accident scene. They followed footprints from his car to a wooded area and a recreational trail that crossed Wayne Avenue and into the Quality Inn & Suites near Indiana. Police said they saw footprints leading to the motel entrance.

They viewed surveillance from a nearby Sheetz store, spoke with hotal staff and found Jimenez hiding under a bed in a hotel room, police said.

Jimenez was charged with homicide by vehicle and accidents involving death or injury while not licensed. He was arraigned before Center Township District Judge Christopher Welch and was denied bail, pending a preliminary hearing set for Feb. 13.