Conaway
A habitual traffic offender drove into a utility pole in the 800 block of Pine Lake Avenue Wednesday night, March 11, 2015, forcing closure of the northern stretch of the busy thoroughfare for several hours.
Jason Conaway, 45, was arrested after the crash on charges of Driving While Adjudged a Habitual Traffic Violator, a Level 6 felony, Operating While Intoxicated, Class A misdemeanor, Reckless Driving, Class A misdemeanor, and Operating While Intoxicated, Class C misdemeanor. He was also cited for Unsafe Lane Movement and Failure to Maintain Insurance.
Conaway’s Chevrolet Silverado truck struck the pole, snapping it at its base. Conaway told LaPorte Police he fell asleep at the wheel.
Besides closure of the avenue from Truesdell Avenue to Johnson Road, the accident caused power outages in the area.
Police also reported that another man was arrested just after midnight March 12 when he drove over traffic cones and drove past barricades put up because of the above accident. This incident happened at the intersection of Pine Lake Avenue and Weller/Truesdell avenues. Jack Campos, 26, of LaPorte, was charged with 3 counts of misdemeanor OWI, Unreasonable Speed and Driving While Suspended.