WHARTON TWP. (KDKA) — Investigators believe a teenage driver was drinking when he crashed his car carrying five other teens into a tree near Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County late Saturday night.

State police now say that the 17-year-old driver is being charged as a juvenile with alcohol-related offenses.

According to authorities, the unidentified driver veered off Hardy Boulevard in Wharton Township and slammed head on into a tree around 11 p.m. Saturday.

Three of his passengers had to be flown via medical helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital, where two were last listed in critical condition.

Another passenger was taken by ambulance to Uniontown Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

All of the passengers were juveniles between 15- and 17-years-old. While authorities have not identified the victims, KDKA-TV has learned that one of the victims is Paige Hardy, the daughter of 84 Lumber founder Joe Hardy. She is listed in serious condition at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

At the time of the crash, state police said that the driver was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. Authorities have since charged him with alcohol-related offenses.

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