Farmington Hills

Police suspect drinking involved in crash

By David Wallace
C & G Staff Writer

FARMINGTON HILLS — Police arrested a man on suspicion of drunken driving following a crash in the Eight Mile and Middlebelt intersection at approximately 3:20 a.m. Jan. 25.

When Farmington Hills police arrived, they found a white Chevy Blazer and a blue Chevy Cavalier heavily damaged in the intersection. Livonia police were speaking to the Blazer’s driver and passenger. The 22-year-old man in the driver’s seat of the Cavalier was not moving and had visible head injuries, according to the report.

The 22-year-old said that he was on his way home from Ram’s Horn, but he didn’t remember how the crash had happened, the report said. He said he hadn’t had any alcohol, and police did not smell any on him. The Livonia Fire Department took him to Botsford Hospital.

Everyone involved in the crash is recovering from any injuries, Farmington Hills Police Lt. Mike Ciaramitaro said Jan. 27.

A 30-year-old Farmington Hills woman who was a passenger in the Blazer told police that she and her brother had gone out for drinks for his birthday, and they were on their way home at the time of the crash, the report said. The woman said “the car hit them,” the report said.

The Blazer was registered to her brother, a Farmington Hills resident, who told police that the Cavalier turned in front of them. Police noted in the report that the man smelled of intoxicants, slurred his speech and had red, watery eyes. An officer had to grab the man’s arm to keep him from falling.

The man took two preliminary breath tests that measured his blood-alcohol content at more than 0.2, and police arrested him for drunken driving. While they were taking him to the Police Department, the report said, the man became verbally abusive, and his uncooperative behavior continued at the Police Department, where he refused a breath test.

Police obtained a search warrant to take the man’s blood, and noted in the report that he continued to vent verbal abuse to the point that they had to close the door to the room at Botsford Hospital during the blood draw to keep from disturbing other patients. The hospital then cleared the man for incarceration, the report said.

According to the crash investigation, the Cavalier was heading north and the Blazer was heading west when they collided.

“The only person that could substantiate the color of the light was the person who got hit, so that’s what we use,” said Ciaramitaro. The Cavalier’s driver reportedly said the light was red for the Blazer.

Ciaramitaro said that there are “no charges as of yet,” due to two outstanding pieces of information. Police need the blood test results from the Blazer’s driver, and they need to obtain the 22-year-old’s medical records.

“As a result, the subject that was arrested was released pending further investigation,” said Ciaramitaro.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer David Wallace at dwallace@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1053.