Driver arrested for 3rd-offense OWI after allegedly crossing center line into path of patrol car

Driver arrested for 3rd-offense OWI after allegedly crossing center line into path of patrol car

Another drunk driving arrest over the weekend involved the driver fleeing after hitting a vehicle and then hitting a pole.

CUSTER TOWNSHIP — A 49-year-old Bitely woman was arrested by a Mason County sheriff’s deputy for third-offense operating while intoxicated after reportedly crossing over the centerline into the path of the deputy’s patrol car Sunday, March 12, shortly before 9 p.m. on US 10 near Poplar Road, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.

The deputy was on patrol in the area following a reported call of a reckless driver on US 10 east of Custer, said Sheriff Cole. The deputy located the vehicle traveling eastbound at 20 mph in a 55-mph zone on US 10. “The vehicle reportedly crossed over the centerline into the path of the patrol car and was stopped immediately,” said Cole. “The driver was then arrested.”

Another drunk driving arrest over the weekend involved the driver fleeing after hitting another vehicle and then hitting a pole. A 60-year-old Ludington man was arrested Saturday, March 11, shortly after 7:15 p.m. on US 10 at Pere Marquette Highway in Pere Marquette Township following a two-vehicle, hit-and-run crash at US 10 and Jebavy Drive, said Sheriff Cole. “Following the first crash, the suspect vehicle fled eastbound on US 10 and then struck a pole at US 10 and Pere Marquette Highway where he was taken into custody,” said Sheriff Cole.

The Ludington Police Department also handled two drunk driving arrests over the weekend, according to Cpt. Steve Wietrzykowski. A 35-year-old Ludington man was arrested for operating while intoxicated Saturday, March 11, at ​2:43 a.m. at the intersection of ​Rath and Bryant​ avenues in the City of Ludington. He was lodged in the Mason County Jail. A 39-year-old Pentwater man was arrested for second-offense operating while intoxicated Sunday, March 12, at ​1:29 a.m. ​in the 200 block of South James Street​ in the City of Ludington. He was lodged in the Mason County Jail.

The following is other Mason County Sheriff’s Office activity over the weekend:

Friday, March 10, 2023:

• 4:14 a.m., car/deer crash, no injury, US 31 south of Free Soil Road, Free Soil Township.

Saturday, March 11, 2023:

• 4:16 p.m., one-vehicle crash, no injury, US 10 east of Meyers Road, Amber Township.
• 10:20 p.m., car/deer crash, no injury, US 31 freeway south of the Ludington rest area, Summit Township.

Sunday, March 12, 2023:

• 12:18 a.m., a 30-year-old Fountain man was arrested for domestic assault following a 911 call reporting an assault, 4900 block of Cleveland Street, Village of Fountain.
• 8:25 p.m., alarm activation, Pere Marquette Township.
• 11:16 p.m., retail fraud, Walmart, 4800 block of West US 10, Pere Marquette Township. The case remains under investigation.

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