BEDFORD — A Lawrence County man was taken into custody early Thursday morning after a traffic stop revealed he was operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level more than double the legal limit.
William C. Hill, 43, of Bedford, faces multiple charges following an incident on Mount Pleasant Road.
The incident began at approximately 5:34 a.m. on February 26, 2026. Lawrence County Dispatch received a report of a vehicle on Mount Pleasant Road that had repeatedly run off the roadway before parking in the middle of the road.
Captain Andrew Phillips, who was already in the area of Mount Pleasant and Bud Ikerd Roads, located the vehicle. Upon making contact, Captain Phillips noted the driver appeared heavily impaired and requested assistance from Deputy Travis Atchison.
When Deputy Atchison arrived, he noted that Hill had poor balance and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Hill was asked to perform standardized field sobriety tests, which he failed.
After being transported to the Lawrence County Jail, Hill was offered the chance to retake the tests in a controlled environment out of the weather, but he again refused. He also refused a voluntary chemical blood draw, prompting deputies to seek a search warrant.
Judge Nathan Nikirk signed a search warrant for Hill’s blood at 8:11 a.m., and the draw was conducted at IU Health Bedford shortly thereafter.
Following the blood draw, Hill agreed to a portable breath test back at the jail. The results returned a reading above 0.20%, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08%. Because the level was so high, the jail was unable to intake him immediately. Hill had to be transported back to the hospital for medical clearance before he could be safely booked into the facility.
In addition to the intoxication charges, a records check revealed that Hill was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license stemming from a prior conviction. The formal charges include operating a vehicle while intoxicated, refusal to submit to a chemical test, and driving while his driver’s license was suspended.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
