Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 - Capsule reports

Drunk driving

A Portland man was arrested for drunk driving after nearly hitting a deer and crashing along Indiana 67 about 9 p.m. Saturday.

Matthew A. Vore, 35, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier northeast on the highway just south of county road 400 South when a deer ran in front of the vehicle. Passenger Lara Keppler grabbed the steering wheel and yanked it to the right, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report, causing the vehicle to go off the southeast side of the road and roll onto its top.

Vore complained of head pain, and Keppler complained of pain all over her body.

Vore was administered a breath test, and he had a 0.131% alcohol concentration, according to the report.

He was charged in Jay Superior Court with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor, and operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration between 0.08% and 0.15%, a Class C misdemeanor.

Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000. The vehicle was towed.

Lost control

Damage is estimated between $50,000 and $100,000 after an Ohio man lost control of the semi he was driving along county road 400 South, causing it to flip onto its side about 2:45 a.m. Friday.

James M. Oechsle, 64, Van Wert, was driving west on the road toward Dunkirk during rainy conditions. He was on his way to deliver materials for making glass bottles at Ardagh Group when the 2019 International semi he was driving went off the side of the road. The weight of the trailer attached to the vehicle caused it to turn onto its side, according to a report from Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

The semi — it’s registered to Modern Transportation of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania — was towed.

Dog hit

A Portland man was unable to avoid hitting a dog along county road 200 South about 7 a.m. Friday.

Ryan E. Younts, 27, was driving his 2023 Kia Telluride west on the road near county road 600 East when the animal ran into the road. Younts’s vehicle crashed into the animal, damaging the car’s front end.

The dog survived the crash but needed a leg amputated, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. Its owners are Crystal and Tony Cline of rural Portland.

Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.

Brakes failed

A Dunkirk woman’s brakes failed while driving on county road 100 West, causing damage to her vehicle about 11:15 p.m. Sunday.

Sandra J. Rollins, 63, told Jay County Sheriff’s Office she was driving her 2018 Toyota Rav4 south on the road near its intersection with county road 500 South when her brakes failed. She continued without stopping and went into a field, crossing several sets of railroad tracks, according to a report from the sheriff’s office.

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000. Her vehicle was towed.

Cow crash

Damage is estimated between $25,000 and $50,000 after a Michigan man hit a cow along U.S. 27 in Jay County about 11:28 p.m. Tuesday.

Christopher Bailey, 63, Coldwater, told police he was driving his 2009 Chevrolet Silverado north on the highway near county road 900 North when he saw a cow in the road. He wasn’t able to avoid hitting the animal, which collapsed in the ditch on the west side of the road.

The cow belonged to Phillip and Deborah Hough of Geneva. Bailey’s truck was towed.