Capsule Reports - Friday, Nov. 24, 2023

Drunk driving

A Portland man was arrested Sunday after he crashed a car in a ditch along U.S. 27 about 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

Jose V. Mendez Lopez, 29, was driving a 2002 Honda Civic north on the highway. He told police the car broke down, causing him to drive onto a property owned by Mary Howell. Police noted in a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report that Mendez Lopez smelled of alcohol and he admitted he had consumed two beers.

His preliminary breath test results showed a blood alcohol level of 0.164%, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08%. He was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor.

Mendez Lopez was being held in Jay County Jail on a $1,000 bond. 

Dog hit

A dog ran in front of an Indianapolis woman’s car along county road 250 West, causing an accident about 5:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Elizabeth A. Thompson, 38, was driving her 2011 Dodge Durango north on the road near county road 400 North when a dog ran in front of her path. She wasn’t able to avoid hitting the animal, causing between $1,000 and $2,500 in estimated damage. The dog belonged to Amanda Smith of rural Portland.

Turning confusion

Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000 after a crash at the intersection of Indiana 67 and county road 125 South about 7:30 a.m. Friday.

Alixandra Englehardt, 18, Fort Recovery, was driving south on Indiana 67 and planning to turn the 2006 Honda CR-V she was driving east onto county road 125 South, but instead chose to turn west. Donald Gilstrap, 67, Albany, was driving behind Englehardt and noticed her left turn signal. He didn’t realize she decided to turn right until crashing into her with his 2016 Nissan NV.

Gilstrap’s vehicle was towed.

Hit Wendy’s

A Union City woman crashed into the Wendy’s building in Portland about 4:42 p.m. Sunday.

Phyllis J. Bradburn, 81, Union City, was backing out of a parking space in the parking lot at 514 N. Meridian St. when her purse fell on the floor, according to a Portland police report. She bent over to pick it up and accelerated, causing her to drive into the restaurant.

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Wrecked sign

Damage is estimated between $1,000 and $2,500 after a South Carolina man crashed into a sign at the intersection of Wayne and Votaw streets in Portland about 5 p.m. Sunday.

Trevor Homan called Portland Police Department to report seeing a 2002 Freighliner Cascadia drive into a stop sign at the intersection. Police tracked down the driver, 23-year-old Jontrell W. Riley of Orangeburg, who explained he didn’t realize he hit the sign. 

Riley was cited for driving off the truck route per the city’s ordinance.The semi is registered to Western Express.