Single-vehicle crash ends in alcohol arrest

An Illinois man with a breath-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit was arrested after a single-vehicle crash.

Columbus police officer Drake Maddix went to the 2900 block of West Inwood Drive at 10:45 p.m. Saturday regarding a vehicle that had crashed into a drainage ditch, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesperson.

When Maddix arrived, he found the driver, Robert M. Masa, 54, South Elgin, Illinois, attempting to drive out of the ditch, Harris said.

Maddix noticed Masa had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and his balance was unsteady, Harris said. Masa told Maddix he was traveling from the Chicago area to South Florida.

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After Masa failed field sobriety tests, he was taken to the Columbus Police Department, where he provided a breath sample of .262 percent, Harris said. Masa was arrested on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, Harris said.

Masa is being held without bond at the Bartholomew County Jail, jail officials said.