Driver arrested, facing felony of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury in Linton crash
/There were multiple injuries in a two-vehicle crash in front of Long John Silvers in Linton earlier this month. One driver was arrested and is accused of causing serious injury while driving under the influence.
Darrell L. Edwards, 60, of Sullivan, is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court Monday to be formally charged with:
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury, a Level 6 felony,
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor, and
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor.
Edwards was arrested on Tuesday, July 10, but when he posted $400 cash to bond out of jail, he was given a July 23 court date.
The crash occurred close to 11 p.m. on Monday, July 9.
While Linton Police Officer Nick Yingling was on patrol that night, he was dispatched to the scene of a crash involving a passenger car and a pickup truck on State Road 54 in the area of Long John Silvers in Linton.
There were multiple injuries.
LPD Chief Troy Jerrell and Officer Joe Riley were also dispatched to the scene.
Edwards was the driver of the pickup truck, a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado.
Officer Yingling reported that when he was speaking to Edwards, taking information and getting his license, he could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Edwards so he asked if Edwards had been drinking alcohol that evening. Edwards allegedly said he had three or four beers.
Yingling also noted in his report that Edwards had slurred speech, glassy eyes and was swaying as he walked.
Officer Riley performed some field sobriety tests then Edwards was asked, and he agreed to take a chemical test, signing a consent for a blood draw.
Yingling transported Edwards to Greene County General Hospital for the blood draw, then on to jail – he was booked in early Tuesday. Test results are pending.
The next day, Yingling obtained consent for medical records from a woman who was a passenger in the crash and was injured. Yingling said her records showed she suffered a finger fracture and a foot fracture which was an open fracture to her left foot.