Wrong-way driver sentenced to 4 years community control

1/12/2013

A Toledo motorist who claims he blacked out while leading Sylvania Township police on an extended chase in April has been sentenced in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to four years of community control.

Gerald Jordan, 63, of 2714 Chestnut St. pleaded guilty in November to attempted failure to comply and drunken driving. Judge Myron Duhart on Tuesday ordered the community control including 80 hours of community service, a three-year license suspension, and six days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio. During the plea hearing, Jordan acknowledged he drove while drunk but said he did not remember everything that occurred.

Jordan’s blood-alcohol content was 0.239 percent at 3 a.m. April 18 when he disregarded officers’ attempts to pull him over on westbound I-475 near Corey Road, according to reports. He was not stopped until officers initiated a crash. At one point, Jordan crossed the median and drove the wrong way on I-475/U.S. 23, authorities said. In Ohio, drivers are considered intoxicated if their blood alcohol content registers 0.08 percent or higher.