Alleged drunk driver causes extensive damage in Apple Blossom subdivision

REELSVILLE -- A suspected drunk driver who is believed to have caused an estimated $40,000 worth of property damage in the Apple Blossom subdivision was arrested early Friday morning by Indiana State Police Troopers from the Putnamville Post.

The wild ride landed suspect Christopher M. Barrow, 26, of Brazil, in the Putnam County Jail.

Putnam County 911 received a call on 11:19 p.m. on Thursday evening from a motorist reporting a suspected impaired driver traveling eastbound on U.S. 40 from the Clay-Putnam County line.

The suspect was driving a white 1998 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and was reported to be traveling at speeds ranging from 40-100 miles per hour and would occasionally veer in and out of both west and eastbound lanes.

Both the Putnam County 911 and ISP Putnamville Post received phone calls from multiple residents in the Apple Blossom subdivision reported a white pickup truck inside Apple Blossom "hitting everything."

Troopers Michael Organ and Marcus Tow along with Putnam County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the area. Upon arrival they located extensive damage consisting of broken utility poles with down lines, damaged mailboxes and signs, as well as tire tracks in numerous yards.

A short while later, another call reported a white truck had struck a guardrail along U.S. 40 and the main entrance sign to Apple Blossom.

At 12:30 a.m. Trooper Organ located the truck in the median of U.S. 40 approximately 1/4 mile east of the Apple Blossom subdivision and near County Road 625 West. After further investigation troopers found the pickup had been traveling east from the main entrance of Apple Blossom, stuck a parked semi trailer, traveled through the median and into the westbound lanes.

The driver then attempted to travel westbound on U.S. 40 and struck the guardrail on the north side of the roadway with the vehicle coming to rest in the median.

Barrow was placed into custody with Troopers Organ and Tow and transported to the jail. Barrow was preliminarily charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated-felony, OWI-endangering a person-Class A misdemeanor and leaving the scene of a property damage crash.

Per ISP regulations, alcohol blood test results were not made available.

Electrical service was interrupted in the Apple Blossom area due to the extensive damage to utility poles allegedly caused by Barrow. Duke Energy estimated their damage at $30,000. Another $10,000 is estimated for damage to private property and the suspect's vehicle.

Anyone living in the Apple Blossom Subdivision wishing to report damage they believed caused by the suspected drunk driver is asked to call the investigating officer, Trooper Marcus Tow, at the Putnamville Post at 653-4114.