AVOCA – On Wednesday, March 13, at 8:00 p.m., Indiana State Trooper Jesse Crane was on patrol when he noticed a 2012 blue Ford Escape near State Road 37 and State Road 54.
The driver, 52-year-old Troy Sanders, looked at the trooper and abruptly changed lanes into the turn lane to travel west on State Road 54.
Trooper Crane turned his patrol car around and found Sanders’ vehicle parked at the Avoca Mini Mart. Sanders quickly exited the driver’s seat and became confrontational with Trooper Crane, saying he was not driving the vehicle.
Trooper Crane detained Sanders, who then admitted he was intoxicated and was driving. He admitted he had drank two pints of vodka and had another open container of vodka in the vehicle.
Sanders failed several field sobriety tests. He was transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital for a blood draw.
Sanders was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, OWI with a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or greater, and OWI with a prior conviction.
The vehicle was released to Sander’s sober passenger.
