Update: Man driving wrong way on 31 had blood level over .17

Nicholas Lange

PENTWATER TWP. Oceana County — The driver of the vehicle that caused an accident on U.S. 31 expressway early this morning by driving the wrong way, was arraigned this morning in Oceana County’s 78th District Court on charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, having a blood alcohol level of .17 or higher. The legal limit is .08.

Nicholas Thomas Lange, 28, of Ludington allegedly caused an accident when his vehicle struck another vehicle that was attempting to exit U.S. 31 at the Oceana Drive exit, about 12:30 a.m. Lange was driving south in the north lane exit.

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage but Lange kept driving south in the north traffic lane after the accident. His vehicle was located by troopers, still travelling south in the north, lane near Wayne Rd. Lange’s vehicle nearly struck a state police patrol car head-on as it was responding to the call. Lange was arrested without further incident after being stopped by troopers.

He is lodged in the Oceana County Jail on the charges commonly known as “superdrunk.” He has also been charged with failure to report a crash and having open intoxicants in a motor vehicle. His bond is set at $5,000/10%.

Troopers were assisted by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, and Hart Police Department.