Driver facing charges for OVWI causing a crash resulting in serious injuries

A 55-year-old Terre Haute man was arrested on Feb. 8 on various charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated which stemmed from a July 2021 accident that occurred on State Road 54 West near Ridgeport Lane. 

Mackshane Budd

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Mackshane Budd on Feb. 1 on charges of causing serious bodily injury when operating a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while intoxicated with an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least .08 but less than .15. 

On July 22, 2021, Greene County Sheriff’s Department (GCSD) Sgt. Jordan Allor, who was an officer at the time as he had not yet been promoted, responded to the accident. He was accompanied by GCSD Officer Cayden Walker. Walker now works at the Linton Police Department but was employed with the GCSD at that time.

While on a call at approximately 8:55 p.m., Allor said he observed a vehicle, traveling east on State Road 54 West, flashing its bright lights at his vehicle. As he continued traveling east, he observed a Chevrolet Cruze on the north side of the roadway and a Honda Civic stopped in the westbound lane. Allor observed major damage and smoke coming from both vehicles. Allor wrote in the probable cause affidavit due to debris and the damaged vehicles it was clear the accident had just occurred. 

Walker went to aid the driver of the Honda Civic, who was later identified as Mackshane Budd. Budd, according to the probable cause, had serious injuries. It was later discovered that Budd had open bottles of both vodka and bloody Mary mix on the passenger floorboard of his vehicle. Both bottles were approximately half full.

Allor went to aid the driver of the Chevrolet Cruze. She complained of ankle and leg pain. After Allor assisted her out of the vehicle, she told the officer she remembered seeing Budd’s vehicle travel in her lane, then she heard sirens. 

A witness spoke with Sgt. Allor and stated he was directly in front of the female’s car and witnessed the crash. He told Allor he was traveling east on State Road 54 when he observed Budd’s vehicle gradually crossing the center line, coming into the other lane. The witness said he swerved to avoid the collision but he witnessed Budd’s vehicle collide with the Chevrolet through his rearview window. 

Master Trooper John Yung of the Indiana State Police was contacted by Walker for an accident reconstruction. When Yung was finished, Allor and Walker headed to the hospital. 

While at the hospital, Sgt. Allor and Officer Walker were informed Budd had been airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital. 

On Jan. 23, 2023, Allor was informed he would be taking over the investigation. 

According to a blood sample taken at the hospital on the day of the accident, Budd’s alcohol content was over the legal limit at .094. 

On Jan. 30, Allor spoke to the female involved in the accident who said she suffered a broken ankle during the accident and did lose consciousness. According to the probable cause affidavit, she explained to Allor that her ankle was fractured from the muscle being pulled from the bone causing it to break a piece of he bone off.

Budd was transported to Greene County Jail on Feb. 8 where his bond was set at $14,000 surety with 10 percent allowed. He was released later the same day after posting $1,400. 

Budd faces charges of: 

• Causing serious bodily injury when operating a motor vehicle, a Level 5 Felony

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

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C Misdemeanor

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least .08 but less than .15, a Class C Misdemeanor