COLDWATER, Mich. (WLKI)- Authorities have brought charges against a former St. Joseph County Road Commission employee in a drunk driving accident.
Branch County Prosecutor Victor Fiz says 45-year-old Donald Preston, former Director of Operations for the St. Joseph County Road Commission, is charged with operating while intoxicated and with operating while intoxicated with a high blood alcohol content, which is also known as a "super drunk" charge in Michigan.
Branch County District Court online records show that the charges were filed Friday, months after the incident happened.
Records show that Michigan State Police were called to an accident at 1:15 AM on June 12 on U.S. 12 near St. Joseph Road. Preston was driving a St. Joseph County Road Commission truck while en route to assist with storm damage in Sturgis, and struck the back of another vehicle, driving by Dalton Loker who was with the Burr Oak Fire Department.
The crash totaled the Road Commission truck.
Testing showed that Preston was operating the vehicle with a blood alcohol contest of .196, well over the State's legal driving limit of .08.
Once the investigation was finished, the case was reviewed by Fitz, due to a conflict of interest with St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deborah Davis, who is related to Preston.
Preston pled not guilty and waived his right to a formal arraignment. He is scheduled to be in court on October 2 at 8:30 AM.