BEDFORD — A local man was taken into custody Tuesday, March 3rd, following a two-vehicle collision caused by a driver traveling the wrong way on a one-way street.
Larry S. McHugh, 31, of Bedford, faces preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment after an investigation led police to believe he was impaired by a combination of substances.
At approximately 9:39 a.m., Bedford Police Officer Steven Hatton Jr. was dispatched to the intersection of 16th and M Streets regarding an accident.
According to the probable cause affidavit, a witness, Jeffrey Bundy, was traveling south on M Street when a gold Ford Taurus, traveling the wrong way on 16th Street, pulled into his path.
McHugh, the driver of the Taurus, reportedly told officers he was following his GPS and realized he was going the wrong way just before the collision occurred.
During the initial interview, Officer Hatton noted that McHugh’s eyes were pinpoint and he was shaking. While McHugh claimed he had only taken his prescribed Suboxone that day, his performance on roadside tests suggested further impairment. According to the affidavit, McHugh struggled with several field sobriety tests.
Due to the results of the roadside tests, McHugh was transported to IU Health Bedford for a blood draw. He then underwent a formal evaluation by Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Officer Sarah Haluda.
In her professional opinion, Officer Haluda determined that McHugh was impaired by a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and a narcotic analgesic, rendering him unable to operate a vehicle safely.
McHugh was transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing. The final charges remain pending the official results of the blood toxicology report from the Indiana Department of Toxicology.
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.
