Report details drunken driving crash thru airport fence
The 52-year-old Indiana man who allegedly crashed through a fence at Detroit Metro Airport in mid-January told Wayne Metro Airport police he urinated on himself after impact and was “dead to rights” as a drunken driver when officers pulled him over, according to the police report from the incident.
The police report was obtained by The Detroit News through a Freedom of Information Act request shortly after the crash, which according to surveillance video took place on Jan. 15 at about 2:27 a.m. The man's name is not being released by The Detroit News because he has yet to be arraigned on charges.
The crash took place at a perimeter fence outside of Gate 12, when a black 2015 Dodge Dart blew through a red flashing light at Goddard and Middle Belt, struck and drove through the fence, causing it “extensive damage,” the report said. The crash tore off the side mirror and other parts of the rented car.
Minutes later, police pulled over the Dart in the southbound lane of Middle Belt, off the eastbound exit from Interstate 94.
Inside, they found two occupants, the suspect, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 240 pounds, and a woman passenger also from Indiana, who was later identified as his girlfriend. The Dart had “front end damage and was missing the passenger side mirror,” along with “heavy scratches on most exterior panels.”
The responding officer, Kurt Martin, noticed the smell of alcohol “emitting” from the driver and passenger, and asked if they had been drinking.
The suspect said he’d been at a birthday party, at which he’d imbibed “at least six beers and several shots,” according to the report.
The officer noticed a wet area around the man’s groin and inquired, at which point the suspect admitted to wetting his pants after hitting the fence.
The officer handcuffed and put him in the back seat of his police car. At this point, the suspect told police he’d be willing to take a preliminary breath exam. Test results were .135. A level of .08 blood alcohol content is considered legally drunk in Michigan.
Martin’s Towing towed the Dart away and impounded it at Martin’s Impound Yard. That’s no relation or affiliation to Officer Martin, confirmed Erica Donerson, a spokeswoman for the airport.
Airport police took the suspect to Romulus Police Department, where a Breathalyzer was administered. The result: .17, high enough to qualify the suspect as a “super drunk” driver, according to Michigan law.
In the end, the suspect was cited under the “super drunk” statute, for leaving the scene of an accident, and for “breach of security,” an airport ordinance. The female passenger was also cited for breach of security.
Charges on the drunken driving case have been submitted to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for review, Donerson said.
The Dart was released to Enterprise.