By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE — A drunken driver struck the railroad viaduct at 1 a.m. Dec. 12 on Schaefer Road, south of Hess Street.
The driver, who said a semi-truck had merged into his lane, causing him to lose control of his vehicle, smelled of intoxicants and had slurred speech, with red, glossy eyes, and was unsteady on his feet.
He failed multiple field sobriety tests. A preliminary breath test was administered, and the man had a blood alcohol content of 0.325, more than four times the 0.08 limit for legally drunk in Michigan.
He was arrested for operating while impaired, and his vehicle, which was damaged on the front passenger side from striking the railroad viaduct, was impounded and towed.
He was taken to the Dearborn police station for booking, where breath tests were repeated, with higher readings than before. He was subsequently taken to Beaumont Hospital, Dearborn, for treatment.