Road Rage, OWI and Arby’s

Clark County, Ind. – A road rage incident Wednesday July 2 resulted in a felony arrest for operating while intoxicated (OWI) and other charges.

It all started around 3:15 p.m. when a witness reported a hit-and-run crash on southbound I-65 near the 22-mile marker. They saw a red Dodge Dakota pickup, missing its license plate, cut off a semi-truck and slam on its brakes, causing a rear-end collision. The truck then sped off, weaving through traffic and even driving on the shoulder to pass other vehicles.

Not long after, near the 16.5-mile marker, Master Trooper Rob Caudill spotted the Dodge Dakota. He tried to pull over the truck for the missing plate and to investigate the crash. The driver, Nathaniel Richard Long, 42, of Lima, Ohio, initially slowed down but then sped off, kicking off a pursuit.

The chase ended when Long exited I-65 at Exit 16, turned onto Memphis Blue Lick Road, and pulled into the drive-thru lane of an Arby’s at a Pilot truck stop. Trooper Caudill quickly moved in and took Long into custody.

Following an investigation, Long was booked into the Clark County Jail facing several charges, including:

Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), Prior – Level 6 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle – Level 6 Felony
OWI Endangerment – A Misdemeanor
Reckless Driving – A Misdemeanor
Leaving the Scene of an Accident – B Misdemeanor

Sergeant Carey Huls with the Indiana State Police who was interviewed by WIBC’s Johnette Cruz also mentioned how important it is with the upcoming holiday to drive responsibly- that includes being aware of your surroundings and not to drink and drive.

Listen to the full interview HERE.