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Driver accused of OVWI after crashing into a ditch

A Jasonville man who crashed his vehicle into a ditch across the street from his own house was arrested early Tuesday and is now facing charges of operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .206.

Donald Ray Harlan, Jr., Jasonville, was arrested by Officer Dustin Cain of the Jasonville Police Department early Tuesday, April 19.

Early Tuesday, around 1 AM, Greene County Dispatch got a call from a citizen who said there was a vehicle nose first in a ditch in the area of South Meridian Street south of Shanklin Street in Jasonville. The caller didn't know whether anyone was in the vehicle or injured.

JPD Officer Dustin Cain responded and found a black 2017 Hyundai SUV with a Freemasonry license plate crashed into a ditch at the northeast corner of Meridian and Heath streets. A pickup truck was parked with a couple of men standing nearby.

When Officer Cain walked up, he found Donald Harlan Jr lying on the ground trying to hook a tow strap up to his vehicle. Twice Officer Cain asked who was the driver of the vehicle and got no answer. The third time Harlan said he was the driver and the other men were there to give him a tow.

Harlan said he did not need medical attention, he just lived across the street, he did not want a crash report completed, and that he was coming from the American Legion and heading home when the crash occurred.

During the conversation, Officer Cain noticed Harlan showed signs of intoxication and asked Harlan to do field sobriety testing. Harlan allegedly said he would try but he wouldn't pass. And he did not pass.

Harlan was transported to the Linton Police Department where he was given another chance to take field sobriety testing but he failed again. Harlan agreed to take a chemical test and results showed he had an alcohol concentration equivalent to .206. The legal limit is .08.

Harlan was booked into the Greene County jail at 3:36 AM with bond set at $4000 surety with 10% cash allowed. He has since posted $400 bond and been released.

Harlan retained an attorney out of Terre Haute and the defense waived the initial hearing.

Harlan is facing charges of:

  • Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor,

  • Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, and

  • Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more, a Class A misdemeanor.