Two men were slightly injured in a head-on Dec. 16 crash on River Road at North Canyon Drive, but one went to jail on DUI charges.

The crash occurred at 5:47 p.m. when Kenneth Carpenter, 62, Modesto, was headed eastbound on River Road and crossed the center line into a westbound vehicle driven by Fernando Ortega, 59, of Modesto. Ortega was pinned inside the car and had to be removed by firefighters. He was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

First aid was rendered to Carpenter who reportedly asked an officer on the scene: "Did I fall asleep at the wheel?" Carpenter had "pinpoint" pupils and admitted taking various pain killers like Oxycodone.

Inside the car was a syringe containing a brown substance that tested positive for heroin.
Due to his state, the officer suspected Carpenter was under the influence of medication or narcotics and arrested him for DUI, possession of a hypodermic syringe, driving without a insurance, and possession of heroin.