CLINTONVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – A quick-witted firefighter on his way to a crash scene played a key role in apprehending a wrong-way driver who fled the scene of a suspected DUI-related crash on Interstate 80 on Friday night.

(Photos provided by Clintonville Volunteer Fire Chief Gerry Rea)

According to Clintonville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gerry Rea, his department was dispatched around 8:30 p.m. after a car entered the Clintonville exit, Exit 35, of Interstate 80 West traveling the wrong way.

Chief Rea told exploreVenango.com, “The driver proceeded around 1/4 mile on I-80, the wrong way, before striking a pickup. After striking the pickup, the driver continued down the road 1/4 to 1/2 mile and fled the scene leaving 80 on foot.”

When Franklin-based State Police arrived, the driver of the car could not be located.

As Gerry’s son, Clintonville Assistant Fire Chief Grant Rea, was traveling to the scene, he spotted an individual walking along I-80 East, about one mile from the crash scene on the east side.

Chief Rea said, “Grant pulled over and got the guy to stop until state police arrived.”

State police arrested the known man on the scene for suspicion of Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol.

Chief Rea said that the traffic at the accident scene continued to flow, with only one lane being closed.

The scene was cleared around 9:45 p.m.

The driver of the pickup and his passenger, who were from the Youngstown, Ohio area, were uninjured.

Both vehicles were disabled and were removed from the scene.