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An Altoona man who police say was dragged down a city avenue clings to life in a Pittsburgh hospital.
Darnell L. Adams, 22, remains in the intensive care unit of Pittsburgh’s UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, his condition deemed “extremely critical,” Altoona police Lt. Jeffrey Pratt said Thursday.
Adams was dragged down 20th Avenue by a vehicle driven by Jocelyn E. Baker, 20, in the early morning hours of Wednesday, during a domestic dispute between the couple.
Evidence at the scene, 1121 20th Ave., suggests Baker was fleeing a “violent domestic attack” and that she was under the influence, although Pratt declined to go into more detail pending a toxicology report from Baker’s blood-test after the incident.
Police indicated Adams was trying to get into the vehicle or reaching in the vehicle as Baker drove off down the block. A single tire skid mark was visible Wednesday along 20th Avenue and around the corner down part of 11th Street. Baker hit two parked vehicles as she dragged Baker, police noted.
Police haven’t released the make or model of the car driven by Baker, but Pratt did say the vehicle was stolen.
Adams suffered serious injuries and was first taken to UPMC Altoona before he was transferred to UPMC Presbyterian where he was to have surgery to address head trauma.
Pratt said the investigation remains ongoing and is likely to take weeks, if not months, due to the use of a state police accident reconstructionist. It’s the same state police accident reconstructionist who is also working with city police in the investigation of a crash on North Logan Boulevard in early January that took the life of 5-year-old Robbie Walter.
Baker has not been charged in connection with Wednesday’s incident but was jailed due to outstanding warrants, including a possession of drug paraphernalia case from March where Baker failed to show up for her preliminary hearing at Central Court.