A Bellefontaine man was taken into custody Thursday evening, Oct. 2, after he reportedly drove a utility truck into a ditch along State Route 540 near County Road 25 while intoxicated.
Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched about 7:15 p.m. after a caller reported a truck stuck in a ditch with its driver revving the engine and spinning the tires, creating smoke. When they arrived, deputies found a Ford F-550 utility truck lodged in a tree line, heavily damaged after striking several trees.
The driver, Joseph Adkins, 49, was not injured. He told deputies another car forced him off the road, but a witness stated Adkins drove westbound off the right side of S.R. 540, continued through the ditch, jumped several driveways, and crashed into the trees.
Deputies noted Adkins exhibited slurred speech, unsteady balance, and had difficulty following instructions. He admitted he might be “hung over” and showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests.
Adkins was arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and transported to the Logan County Jail. A breath test there showed his blood alcohol concentration at 0.276, more than three times the legal limit.
Because the driver was operating a commercial vehicle and holds a CDL endorsement, he was advised of the appeal process and placed under an Administrative License Suspension.
The truck, owned by CSX Transportation, sustained disabling damage and was removed by Tops Towing.
