Motorist flees after I-75 car-truck crash

7/20/2006

The driver of a car that was dragged by a tractor-trailer on I-75 Tuesday night fled from the accident unhurt, and it took police two hours to find him.

Bradley R. Watt, 21, of St. Louis Street in Toledo, appeared in Perrysburg Municipal Court yesterday charged with two counts of operating a vehicle while under the influence, failure to stay in his lane, and leaving the scene of an accident, authorities said. He was released on his own recognizance and was slated to appear in court again tomorrow.

Witnesses told Perrysburg police a car entered I-75 northbound at U.S. 20 behind a semi-trailer shortly before 10:40 p.m. Tuesday.

The car swerved into the left lane, and then turned sideways and slid front-first under the trailer unit, Perrysburg police Sgt. J.D. Justus said.

The truck pulled over south of State Rt. 795. The driver of the car got out and ran into a field on the east side of the highway, Sergeant Justus said.

Perrysburg, Perrysburg Township, and Rossford police used a K-9 unit and night vision equipment in the search, and a Life Flight helicopter that was in the area offered assistance, he said.

Mr. Watt was arrested near Deimling Road by Perrysburg Township police about 12:40 a.m. He failed field sobriety tests, Sergeant Justus said.