Residents gathered on their West Washington Street porches last night to survey the aftermath of an alleged drunk-driving accident that damaged six cars.
The accident took place on West Washington Street between Congress and High streets at about 11:30 p.m. The accident happened when the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado allegedly ran the red light at the intersection of Washington and Congress, Athens Police Lt. Joe Stotts said.
The truck then struck a Pontiac Grand Prix that was turning into a driveway. That car spun and hit another Grand Prix that was parked on the left side of the street. The truck continued on and rear-ended a Toyota Yaris, also parked on the left side, Stotts said.
“The truck pushed the Yaris about 12 feet up the street. Then (the driver) tried to get away and hit the Jeep over there,” Stotts said, referring to a Jeep Wrangler parked on the right side of the street.
The truck eventually stopped at the corner of High and Washington streets after losing one of its front tires, which landed in the yard of 14 W. Washington St., Stotts said.
Ohio University student Ben Volk, a senior studying video production, lives at 14 W. Washington St. He witnessed the accident’s final moments, starting with the Yaris push and ending with the driver’s arrest.
“(The driver) tried to drive away with his truck like that,” Volk said. “He then got out and tried to walk away until the police stopped him.”
Volk was among multiple residents who gathered on the sidewalks and porches to watch the aftermath. Police asked onlookers whether anyone had witnessed the entire accident but were unable to find anyone who had.
Athens police took the driver of the truck into custody. Stotts said alcohol was a suspected factor in the accident
The Silverado, Yaris and one Grand Prix were towed from the scene.
The two women who were in the Grand Prix heading into the driveway did not suffer any injuries from the accident. The driver of the truck suffered a bloody nose and his passenger — who fled the scene, witnesses said — apparently was not harmed.
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