Steven M. Rice, 53, of Lakeview, was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs relating to a non-injury crash about 11:10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 23.
Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office report he was operating a northbound 2010 Ford F-150 on Township Road 239 approaching the stop light at U.S. Route 33.
His vehicle reportedly began sliding on the icy roadway and struck the rear of a northbound 2021 Jeep Compass operated by Dakota Trout, 25, of Russells Point.
Damage was light to both vehicles.
Upon arrival at the scene, deputies were informed by Trout that the other driver, Rice, left the scene in his vehicle and was in the nearby parking lot of the Lakeview Hardware Store, 8793 T.R. 293.
While speaking with Rice in the parking lot, deputies detected an odor of alcoholic beverage and also noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. He later admitted to deputies that he was still “hungover” from the previous night after consuming a number of alcoholic beverages before he went to bed.
Rice declined to participate in field sobriety tests and in a chemical breath test. He was released to a family member at the scene.
The defendant also was cited for failure to maintain assured clear distance ahead.
No injuries reported in holiday weekend crashes
Deputies handled a number of non-injury, weather-related crashes during the Christmas holiday weekend, when ice and snow conditions, strong wind gusts and subzero temperatures affected the area, including the following:
• Deputies responded to a report of a semi tractor-trailer that had jack-knifed on U.S. Route 68 near Township Road 199 about 11:25 a.m. Friday.
John D. Murray, 51, of Blacksburg, S.C., reportedly was operating a northbound semi on U.S. 68 during snowy conditions when the semi jack-knifed, and then then traveled off the left side of the road.
No injuries were reported. Damage was moderate to the semi.
• Cooper L. Noble, 22, of Bellefontaine, was cited for failure to control related to a non-injury rollover crash on Christmas Day.
Deputies report he was operating a northbound 2000 Chevrolet Silverado on County Road 49 near County Road 37 when he went off the right side of the road in the icy conditions and the vehicle overturned onto its side.
Damage was heavy to the pickup, which was towed from the scene. The driver was wearing his seat belt.
• Maria J. Oliver, 42, of Bellefontaine, was cited for failure to control relating to a crash involving her car and an Ohio Department of Transportation snow plow Saturday, Dec. 24.
Deputies report she was operating a southbound 2008 Ford Focus on U.S. 68 approaching County Road 5 when she failed to maintain control in the snowy conditions. Her car struck the front of the snow plow operated by Adam M. Runkle, 37, of Bellefontaine, that was stationary along the east side of U.S. 68, waiting for traffic to pass.
Damage was light to the car and no damage was reported to the snow plow.
• Jonathan A. Leistritz, 44, of Cable, was cited for marked lanes relating to a non-injury crash about 3:45 p.m. Friday.
Deputies report he was operating a southbound 2006 Dodge Ram in the 1400 block of Township Road 216 and drove over a snow drift, pushing his vehicle over the center line.
The pickup then struck a northbound 2017 Chevrolet Silverado operated by David A. Hensley, 58, of Lima.
Damage was moderate to the Leistritz pickup and heavy to the Hensley vehicle. The drivers were wearing their seat belts.
Son arrested after domestic dispute
Christian S. Kline, 31, of Wapakoneta, was charged with domestic violence, assault and resisting arrest related to a Christmas Day incident.
Deputies responded about 9:40 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, to the area of County Road 37 near County Road 39 near Huntsville on a report of a rolling domestic dispute.
Deputies spoke with Kline’s mother, Denise Jones, and her husband, David Bruns, who stated they received a call to pick up Kline after he was having other family issues.
Jones said Bruns and her son got into a physical confrontation near 57 C.R. 37, Huntsville.
Then she said they all got back into the vehicle and a second altercation took place while in the 3000 block of C.R. 37, where Jones admitted to pushing her son and then he allegedly punched her in the face. Deputies observed swelling beside Jones’ right eye.
Jones said Kline left the area on foot and pointed to tracks in the snow. Deputies began following the tracks and then received a report that Kline was at a residence on County Road 39.
Deputies were able to speak with him at the residence and noted an odor of alcoholic beverage on his person and that his shirt had been ripped.
He agreed to come outside to a deputy’s patrol car to speak further about what had happened. After speaking with Kline, deputies moved to place him under arrest, but he resisted their attempts to put him in handcuffs. During a struggle with deputies, Kline’s glasses reportedly broke and cut the bridge of his nose.
At the Logan County Jail, Kline was placed in the restraint chair, and then fell asleep about five minutes later, deputies said.