A husband and wife were both arrested on Monday for driving under the influence, reported Complex on Wednesday. According to multiple reports, the wife—who was intoxicated—crashed into her husband's car while picking him up from his own drunk car accident.
No major injuries were reported; however, the husband was admitted to the hospital, where he was being treated for a non-life-threatening medical issue.
Police told local news station WEHT that Poseyville, Indiana resident Donald Ricketts, 56, was driving northbound on SR 165 when he struck the driver's side of a tractor-trailer driving southbound.
According to Complex, neither Ricketts nor the driver of the tractor-trailer was injured.
WEHT reported that the crash site was near Ricketts' home, so he allegedly called his wife Cheral Ricketts to pick him up from the scene. When Cheral arrived, however, she crashed her car into her husband's. Both vehicles were totaled.
When police arrived at the scene, they gave the couple preliminary breathalyzer tests. Both reports stated Cheral had a BAC of .22 percent, while Donald had a BAC of .28 percent. The legal limit is .08 percent.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported approximately 28 people in the U.S. die in drunk driving accidents every day. In 2019—the latest reporting year on NHTSA's website—10,142 people died as a result of an alcohol-related crash.
In that same year in Indiana, Fountain Law Firm reported that 99 fatalities occurred as a result of alcohol-related collisions, as well as 1,788 injuries.
Unlike other states, Indiana uses the term "operating while intoxicated" (OWI) instead of "driving under the influence" (DUI) to refer to "drink or drugged driving," according to Nolo. Indiana also has what is known as a "zero tolerance" law that makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to operate a vehicle with a BAC of .02 percent or higher.
Typically, those found guilty of drunk driving in the state will have their license revoked, and could face jail time or fines. Nolo stated that those found with a BAC of .15 percent or higher could face increased fines and/or jail time.
Though no major injuries were reported, Donald Ricketts was admitted to Deaconess Gibson Hospital, where it was last reported that he was being treated for a non-life-threatening medical issue. Cheral, on the other hand, was taken to Posey County Jail after being arrested.
Newsweek has reached out to Indiana State Police for further information.
Uncommon Knowledge
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