Kelli J. Stoner, 46, of Cable, was charged Saturday with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. She also was issued a traffic citation for failure to control in a single vehicle crash at 3 a.m. on Ludlow Road near Blue Jacket Drive.
An officer on patrol observed her sitting in a sport utility vehicle point southbound stuck in snow off the west side of Ludlow.
The officer approached the driver’s side and began speaking with Stoner. She admitted to texting on her cellular phone while driving, which caused her to drive off the road.
While speaking with Stoner, the officer noted multiple signs she had been drinking alcohol, including the inability to find her driver’s license quickly; bloodshot and glassy eyes; slurred speech; and an odor of alcohol coming from the SUV. When asked to exit the SUV and sit in the police cruiser to stay warm, the motorist reportedly had difficulty maintaining her balance.
Field sobriety tests were conducted inside a city facility. The officer reports the tests indicated Stoner was impaired by alcohol.
She submitted a breathalyzer sample of 0.101. She was released to her husband.
Damage to the SUV was heavy.
Semi driver cited for leaving crash scene
Gary E. Heath, 75, of Bellefontaine, was issued traffic citations for leaving the scene of a crash, improper turn and improper backing after a tractor-trailer he was operating destroyed a utility pole at the southwest corner of Columbus Avenue and Central Court around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Officers used surveillance camera footage from the Bellefontaine Municipal Court, 226 W. Columbus, to identify the vehicle.
The footage shows Heath turning an eastbound semi from Columbus onto southbound Central. It was loaded with logs.
The vehicle struck the pole, came to a stop, backed up over both lanes of Columbus and onto the sidewalk in front of the municipal court and nearly striking the building.
Heath then drove south from the scene.
He met met with officers Wednesday and was served with the citations.