Local Man Charged With OVI In Tuesday Crash

The Highway Patrol says excessive speed and prescription drug use are thought to be contributing factors in a single car accident Tuesday that knocked over a live electric pole, a mailbox and left one lucky driver with only minor injuries.

The accident occurred just before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening in the 1600 block of Dietz Lane and left the vehicle, a maroon Dodge 2500, with substantial damage. Trooper Troy Hale with the Ohio State Highway Patrol explained more.

“The vehicle was driving eastbound on Dietz lane when it went off the right-side of the roadway, striking a mailbox, a utility pole and then a guardrail. We definitely got an AEP pole down, they’re en-route now to shutdown the power and looks like his truck with major damage, possibly totaled.”

Power for the area was down for several hours after the accident while crews with AEP made repairs. The road was also restricted to one lane for several hours. The driver of the vehicle, William B. Winters, is a resident of Dietz lane and is reported to have been wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident.

According to a neighbor who responded to the scene, Winters was forced to crawl out the passenger side of the vehicle as the utility pole and live power line draped dangerously over the driver-side door. Trooper Hale said Winters will be cited for OVI and failure to control.

Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department and Genesis Community Ambulance also responded to the scene.