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Last updated on Monday, December 30, 2013
(SALEM) - A Salem man who told police he had had a couple drinks at a party on December 21 struck a vehicle head-on, had no idea he’d been involved in a crash.
According to Washington County deputies, 78-year-old Bill Eldridge, of 4399 East Canton Rd., Salem, had a blood alcohol content of twice the legal limit.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m., officers responded to a reported crash at Lewelleyn and Bowsman roads. The man called police reported the man who had hit his vehicle was intoxicated and trying to leave the scene.
Deputies found Eldridge, sitting in his 2006 Ford Explorer, he didn't even realize he had been involved in a wreck.
The other driver, who was in a 2007 GMC Pickup, told police he saw the Explorer headed for him and he pulled off the road as far as he could, but could not avoid the crash.
Police asked Eldridge to get out of his vehicle, he refused and told police he was going home. Police noted in their report the Eldridge was "very confused."
Eldridge held onto the door refusing to let the officer to open it. Officers forcefully opened the door and removed Eldridge from the vehicle while Eldridge continued to fight with officers.
Eldridge was charged with OWI while intoxicated endangerment, OWI per se above .15 and resisting law enforcement. All are Class A misdemeanors.
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