Drunk driver who caused crash with multiple injuries in Linton sentenced to two years in jail

A driver, convicted of OVWI causing a crash in Linton resulting in multiple injuries last summer, reported to the Greene County Jail this week to begin serving a two-year sentence.

Darrell Edwards

Darrell L. Edwards, 60, of Sullivan, was arrested following a crash involving two vehicles that occurred around 11 p.m. on Monday, July 9, on State Road 54 in the area near Long John Silvers in Linton.

Linton Police Officer Nick Yingling was on patrol that night and was dispatched to the scene involving a passenger car and a pickup truck. 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.

Yingling reported one woman who was a passenger in the crash suffered a finger fracture and a foot fracture which was an open fracture to her left foot.

Edwards was 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.

The day after the crash, Edwards was released after posting $400 cash and he’s been out on bond while awaiting the conclusion of his case.

In mid-September, Edwards signed a negotiated plea agreement along with his defense attorney, Deputy Public Defender Ellen Martin, and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh.

Last Thursday, October 25, Edwards changed his plea to guilty of OVWI causing serious bodily injury, a Level 6 felony, when he appeared before Judge Dena Martin in Greene Superior Court. In keeping with the terms of the agreement, the State dismissed the other two counts.

Edwards was then sentenced to two years in the Greene County Jail. None of this sentence was suspended – it’s just a plain two years in jail. However, he was given credit for one day already served and he’ll get good time credit for that day and for days served during the two year sentence if he’s eligible.

In addition, when he is released, he must perform 10 days of community work in the Greene County Community Corrections Program and he must show up to do that within three days after he gets out of jail. He was also ordered to pay various fines, court costs and fees.

Edwards was ordered to report to the jail to begin serving his sentence by 9 a.m. this past Monday, October 29. Jail records show he did turn himself in on time.