A Bowmanstown man will be cited after he caused a four-vehicle crash along Route 209 in Nesquehoning Tuesday morning.

According to Nesquehoning police Chief Sean Smith, the crash happened near the intersection of Catawissa and School streets just before 7 a.m.

Smith said the initial dispatch was for a single-vehicle crash and no injuries, but when he arrived, he found four vehicles had been involved.

Smith said the vehicle that caused the crash, a Toyota RAV4, was driven by Brian Gabriel Canto, who told officers he believed he had fallen asleep at the wheel.

Smith said it is believed Canto was speeding when he came to the bend in West Catawissa Street and failed to make the turn, traveling into the northbound lane and struck a 2014 Ford F150 pickup.

The pickup’s drive axle snapped during the crash, and after being struck, spun into a parked 2019 Hyundai Elantra, pushing it onto the sidewalk.

After striking the pickup, the RAV4 continued straight and struck a parked 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Canto was transported to St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale for his injuries.

An investigation confirmed the incident.

Citations will include driving a vehicle at an unsafe speed and careless driving.

Nesquehoning Hose, Hauto and New Columbus fire companies assisted at the scene. Marouchoc’s Towing towed the RAV4 and pickup. All four vehicles were considered not drivable due to heavy damage.