JUDAH – A Spencer man was arrested on a warrant after a blood test revealed he had THC in his blood following an injury accident.
Police arrested 43-year-old Matthew Deckard on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resulting in serious bodily injury, after receiving the results of his blood test from the Indiana State Police lab.
According to Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Lonnie Johnson, officers responded to an injury accident at the intersection of State Road 37 and Old State Road 37 on September 8, 2023, at 11:34 a.m.
Investigators report that Deckard was driving a 2017 Chevrolet north on State Road 37 when he ran a red light at the intersection of Old State Road 37. His vehicle collided with a 2011 Ford driven by Garrett T. Turner, who had a green light and was proceeding through the intersection at the time of the crash. Deckard’s car struck the driver’s side of Turner’s vehicle.
Upon arrival, officers noted that Deckard exhibited signs of intoxication, including the smell of alcohol and the presence of open alcoholic beverage containers inside the car. He left the vehicle in gear, failed to turn off the engine, and had difficulty opening the door. Witnesses reported seeing Deckard stagger as he exited the vehicle, and he subsequently failed several field sobriety tests.
Police reviewed security footage from Johnny Junxion that captured the crash, further corroborating the incident.
Sgt. Ramos transported Deckard to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for a blood draw.
Meanwhile, Turner, who was unconscious and sustained severe injuries, was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital for emergency treatment.
On December 14, 2023, police received the toxicology report, which revealed that Deckard had DELTA-9 THC and DELTA-9 Carboxy THC in his bloodstream.
This information was forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office, which subsequently issued a warrant for Deckard’s arrest.
