Monday, April 4, 2011
Driver Strikes Utility Pole, Runs Through Fences In Saturday Night Crash
An Ethridge man was taken into police custody Saturday night after residents of Glenn Springs Road discovered he had crashed into a utility pole then ran through three fences on their property.
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputies were notified of the matter shortly before midnight Saturday. The initial call was regarding illegal trespassing. While they were en route, however, deputies were notified that the incident was actually a crash that involved injury.
Deputies report they drove to the area of 217 Glenn Springs Road, but that they had difficulty finding the crash site. They eventually discovered that the vehicle involved was disabled approximately ½ mile into a field.
Residents told deputies they had discovered a vehicle was in their pasture and went to investigate. They found that the vehicle was disabled in a fence row, the driver complaining of an apparent injury.
Reports show that driver Matthew John Adkins, 24, of 65 Elizabeth Court, Ethridge, told deputies he had been “looking for his father” when the crash occurred. Deputies say he was complaining of chest pain, therefore he was transported by ambulance to Crockett Hospital for medical attention.
While investigating the scene deputies concluded that Adkins had left the roadway, struck a utility pole, ran through a four strand, high tensile, wire fence, then stopped in the pasture.
Reports show that Adkins drove back through the pasture “in what appeared to be an attempt to leave the scene.” He drove approximately ½ mile through the field before striking a second four-strand fence.
He reportedly drove through that fence, before striking a third four-strand fence. At this point, deputies report Adkins’ vehicle became incapacitated. A fence post had become wedged between the passenger side front tire and fender.
Deputies note they were unable to administer field sobriety tests due to Adkins’ injuries. They did suspect, however, that he was under the influence of an intoxicant at the time the crash occurred. Warrants were subsequently obtained against Adkins in connection with the crash.
Adkins did submit to a blood alcohol test while at Crockett Hospital. Once he gained medical clearance he was placed under arrest by deputies and transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center.
There he was booked under charges of first offense DUI, vandalism, and leaving the scene of an accident. He was also issued a citation, charging him with failure to maintain a proper lane of travel.
Adkins is scheduled to answer the charges against him through Lawrence County General Sessions Court on May 6, 2011.
