A Linton teen, who did not have a driver’s license, is accused of reckless driving for going 60 mph in a 20 mph zone when he ran off the road, plowed through a fence and landed in a pond.

Joseph Cross-Brinson, 18, Linton, is accused of reckless driving and driving without ever receiving a license following an incident that occurred late Tuesday night. The incident was investigated by Deputy Andrew Weeks of the Greene County Sheriff's Department.

After a resident on East Jay Bird Road called 911 and reported that Cross-Brinson drove his vehicle into the resident’s pond but wasn't wanting law enforcement to be involved, Deputy Weeks was dispatched.

That was around 11:06 PM and when he arrived on the scene, GCSD Deputy Michael Stanley and Sergeant Bobby Pierce of the Linton Police Department were already there.

Deputy Weeks reported that when he asked Cross-Brinson what happened, Cross-Brinson allegedly said he was going south on 7th St. at approximately 60 to 65 mph and when he tried to stop, he was unable to stop and ran off the roadway, damaging a fence before coming to a stop in a pond. Deputy Weeks noted that 7th St. has a 20 MPH speed limit sign posted and is in a residential area. Cross-Brinson said he didn't think his brakes were working.

When asked for his driver's license, Cross-Brinson said he did not have one but was in the process of getting one.

A towing service arrived and pulled the vehicle out of the pond. Photographs were taken of the damage to the fence and the vehicle and information was gathered from the vehicle's owner and the property owner. Cross-Brinson was advised that he would be receiving a summons in the mail.

A criminal case was filed against Cross-Brinson yesterday. He is facing charges of:

Reckless driving at unreasonable speed that endangers safety, a Class C misdemeanor, and
Knowingly or intentionally operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license, a Class C misdemeanor.

A summons was issued and he is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court for his initial hearing on April 27.