Numerous charges are pending against two people who may have been under the influence when they crashed a half-loaded, 26-foot U-Haul truck into two utility poles and a flatbed trailer along Route 209 in Coaldale in the early hours of Saturday morning, then fled the scene.

Officer Scott Cramer said the rented truck, carrying household items and driven by Michael Hill of New Ringgold, and carrying a passenger, Kasara Shields of Lansford, was traveling from Tamaqua to Lansford when it crashed into the first pole, in front of Pappy's Mini Mart, at about 4:48 a.m.Cramer said Hill may have fallen asleep or passed out; police found drug paraphernalia in the cab of the truck, and blood test results are pending.There were no skid marks before striking the first pole, which was in front of gasoline pumps at the convenience store. The truck struck the pole with the front driver's side, ripping off the tire. It then continued on, hitting a second utility pole with the front passenger side, ripping off that tire. A transformer exploded, and wires fell and were burning.The truck then careened 168 feet into the parking lot, striking a flatbed trailer and pushing it 12 feet.The front end of the U-Haul was embedded under the flatbed, Cramer said.Hill had apparently been thrown to the passenger side of the truck before hitting the flatbed. Both he and Shields crawled out through the passenger side window and fled into woods on BET mine property, heading toward Lansford.They were caught by BET security and Lansford Det./Sgt. Jack Soberick, who brought them back to the scene. Shields complained of pain. Emergency medical services came and evaluated her, and she was flown to St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem.Hill also complained of leg pain. He was taken to St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, Coaldale. Both Hill and Shields were treated and released.The crash forced authorities to close Route 209 for 9.5 hours. Pappy's was closed all day, and had to discard refrigerated and frozen food because of lack of power, Cramer said.Charges are pending against both Hill and Shields.