Erie County man faces several charges in 1-car crash
4/9/2004SANDUSKY - A 24-year-old Erie County man is to be arraigned in Erie County Court this morning after being arrested Wednesday on charges related to an accident in southwestern Erie County in which he and his two passengers were injured last Friday.
Ryan M. Jenkins, of 6605 Alspaugh Drive, northwest of Castalia, was held without bond yesterday in the Erie County Jail on charges from the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Sandusky Post. He was charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular assault - both second-degree felonies - operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, driving under suspension, failure to control, no seat belt, two counts of drug paraphernalia, drug abuse, and operating a vehicle with license plates belonging to a previous owner.
Aggravated vehicular assault is a second-degree felony if alcohol is involved and the operator has a suspended license. The charge holds a penalty of up to eight years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Jenkins' driver's license has been suspended since January, 2003, because of a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. A hospital blood test after last Friday's accident showed his blood alcohol level at 0.11 percent; the legal limit for driving is 0.08 percent.
Authorities found two marijuana pipes in Jenkins' car. He lost control and the car, went off the left side of the road, and struck a utility pole, according to the patrol.
He was flown by helicopter to Medical College of Ohio. His passengers, Gabriel Gundrum, 20, suffered a broken right hand and abrasions, and Brandon P. Whyde, 16, suffered a broken right wrist, hip injuries, and lacerations. Both are from the Castalia area.