For a short time Saturday morning, Scotch Valley Road just east of Frankstown Road was a dangerous place to be.
"It was pretty wild for a couple minutes," as three motorists in succession crashed on the same curve, resulting in minor injuries to two people, said Geeseytown Fire Chief Denny Walls and state police.
The first crash occurred when a methadone user nodded off. The other two happened when motorists lost control and fishtailed after braking on the wet road before emergency workers finished setting up, according to Walls.
Benjamin T. Forr, 29, Altoona, had just received treatment, was "impaired," and passed out while driving, police said. His eastbound vehicle hit a tree and garage on the right side, when Forr failed to negotiate a left curve, police and Walls said.
Forr was arrested for DUI and related offenses, police said.
A short time later, with a fire truck blocking the eastbound lane while its driver was trying to get it into position, a westbound vehicle driven by Kelly L. Hickox, 21, Hollidaysburg, when off the right side - opposite Forr's - and down an embankment, Walls and police said.
Then, with Hickox out of her vehicle and emergency workers trying to help her - after workers had set out cones but not flares - a westbound vehicle driven by Kaitlynn, Eckhard, 21, Altoona, went over the same embankment in the same way, Walls and police said.
Firefighter Paul Grove III, Hollidaysburg, realized Eckhard's vehicle was coming and started to move away, but he didn't make it in time, Walls and police said.
Hickox and Grove were treated and released at Altoona Regional, according to Walls and the hospital.
"They were piling up pretty fast," Walls said. "It gave me a lot more gray hair and took a couple of years off."
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.
