A Chesterton man was arrested for allegedly driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated after his vehicle hit the Joe’s Kids’ building Saturday.
According to the Warsaw Police Department accident report, at about 5:28 p.m. Saturday, Billy G. Oliver Jr., 39, Chesterton, said he was driving a 2008 Ford F-150 east on U.S. 30, near Springhill Road. He said he was talking on the phone with his wife, but didn’t have the phone in his hands. He said he is not sure what happened in regards to the accident.
Oliver did not say he had any injuries, but was transported to the hospital for further evaluation and for a driving while intoxicated investigation.
Oliver’s vehicle sustained damage to the front passenger side, center passenger side and rear passenger side.
Due to tire marks in the grass, Oliver’s vehicle appeared to go off the roadway to the right into the ditch, then hit the building at 902 Provident Drive, suite C, where Joe’s Kids is located.
Two witnesses said they were in the vehicle behind Oliver driving east on U.S. 30. They said they saw Oliver start to veer to the right of the road and believed Oliver was pulling to the right side of the road. They then saw Oliver’s vehicle go into the ditch. The vehicle collided with the building.
The witnesses said they drove up to the building to assist Oliver.
Damages are estimated at $25,000 to $50,000.
Oliver was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 9 p.m. Saturday for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on a preliminary bond of $700.