Columbus police officers arrested a local man Thursday afternoon on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after determining that he crashed into another vehicle in a school student pick up lane and later provided a breath test sample over four and one-half times the legal limit.
At approximately 2:50 p.m., Columbus police were sent to Richards Elementary School, 3311 Fairlawn Drive, in regards to a minor accident involving two vehicles in the student pick up lane, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
A school resource officer, who was inside Richards Elementary School when the call was dispatched, also responded to the crash.
A short time later, the officers noted that one of the drivers involved in the crash, Patrick A. Swan, 37, of Columbus had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and observed that his balance was unsteady, Harris said.
The officers administered several field sobriety tests to Swan which he did not pass, Harris said.
Swan was later transported to the Columbus Police Department where he provided a breath sample of .361% Br.A.C., over four and one-half times the legal limit, Harris said.
Swan was placed under arrest and transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for medical clearance and later taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on the preliminary charge of operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol reading of .15% or greater, a Class A misdemeanor.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
