Police administer Narcan after woman runs red light, hits another car

Monica Zalaznik
August 3, 2020

BUCKHANNON – A Crawford woman was arrested over the weekend after allegedly causing an accident at the intersection of Route 20 North and Buckhannon Crossroads at the stoplight by Sheetz.

Makyna Kancso, 25, of Crawford, was arrested Sunday for DUI causing serious bodily injury, a felony.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Cpl. Marshall O’Connor with the Buckhannon Police Department, on Sunday Aug. 2, several officers with the Buckhannon Police Department responded to a wreck at the intersection of Route 20 and Buckhannon Crossroads.

Kancso had been traveling south on Route 20, towards town, when she ran a red light and collided with a car that was turning left onto Route 20 North at the stoplight beside Sheetz.

According to the report, witnesses told police the vehicle being driven by Kancso was swerving all over the roadway, and the driver appeared to have no control of the vehicle prior to the accident. The vehicle allegedly ran through the red light and collided with the opposing vehicle as it was making the left turn.

Sgt. Tom Posey with the BPD arrived on scene and administered a dose of Narcan to Kancso because she was reportedly blue in the face and appeared to not be breathing, the file says. The complaint says Kancso’s condition appeared to have caused the accident. Kancso was given Narcan, which was successful in bringing her color back and she began breathing.

According to the report, Patrolman Sam Kraemer located several items used to smoke controlled substances inside the vehicle. The complaint says Kancso told officers she smoked heroin just minutes prior to the motor vehicle accident. The file also said Kancso told police she believed she overdosed and lost consciousness prior to the MVA occurring, which was confirmed by statements taken at the scene by Kraemer.

It was also discovered that a passenger in the opposing vehicle was transported by Advanced Life Support from St. Joseph’s Emergency Room to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

Bail was set at $75,000.

The possible penalty for DUI causing serious bodily injury is confinement in the penitentiary for a term of two to 10 years and a fine ranging between $1,000 and $3,000.