Motorist Tyler R. Purkey, 21, of Pittston, has been arrested on a felony aggravated assault-by-vehicle charge and several summary offenses, including reckless driving, that stem from a crash near Lairdsville in early January in which his pickup truck collided head-on with an oncoming car, critically injuring its driver, a volunteer firefighter, according to state police.

It was alleged that Purkey was passing a tractor-trailer truck in a no-passing zone and traveling between 88 and 95 mph when his eastbound 2021 Chevrolet Silverado plowed into a westbound Nissan Murano in the westbound lane in the 7900 block of Route 118 in Franklin Township about 6:45 p.m. on Jan. 5, police said in an affidavit.

Driving the Nissan was Raymond Lunger, president and an assistant chief with the Lairdsville Volunteer Fire Department. He was hospitalized in an intensive care unit with critical injuries, including a brain bleed and serious facial fractures, for three days before being discharged. Lunger said Wednesday he continues to recover from back and shoulder injuries he suffered in the violent collision. Lunger told investigators that he saw Purkey’s truck “approaching in his lane and that he attempted to swerve into a ditch to avoid the impact, but Purkey made the same evasive maneuver,” it was stated in the affidavit.

Following his arraignment before District Judge Kirsten Gardner, Purkey was released on $35,000 bail. Initially scheduled this month, his preliminary hearing has been continued until the end of May.