Police Blotter: Driver Crashes into Tree, Admits to Drinking

A 22-year-old Oakland Township resident was cited for reckless driving Monday morning after he admitted to crashing his car between 6:15-6:30 a.m., according to an Oakland County Sheriff's Office report.

The driver also "admitted to having eight to nine shots of Jack Daniels" from 3-4 a.m. Monday; he blew a 0.213 blood-alcohol content on the preliminary breath test at 7:56 a.m., according to the report.

When the deputy found the vehicle, it "was facing north on the west side of Hadden Road and had gone approximately 30 feet before it ran head-on into a tree," read the report. The deputy checked the vehicle, which was found to be empty, then tracked down the car's owner, who lived nearby on Buell Road.

The deputy questioned a woman living at the residence, who said her son "got into the accident." The deputy questioned her son, who said he did not call the police because "he didn't think he needed to, since the car was probably damaged beyond (repair)," according to the report.

The driver, who said he was not hurt and refused medical attention, also said "he was out late last night and while on his way home, he fell asleep while driving up Hadden Road, ran off the road and hit a tree," read the report.

"He admitted to having a few drinks," read the report, though "(he) did not appear to have any obvious signs of being heavily intoxicated."

Because of the time lapse between the crash and the start of the investigation – and the fact that the driver had been home for more than an hour after the accident – "an operating while intoxicated arrest wouldn't be possible," according to the report.

Since he had admitted to drinking and smelled of intoxicants, however, and since he also blew a 0.213 on the preliminary breath test more than an hour after the crash, he was issued a citation for reckless driving. The vehicle was towed to the driver's home, per his request.

For questions about this blotter, email jen.anesi@patch.com.