BEDFORD—Bedford Police Dispatch received a 911 call at 3:47 p.m. on October 23, reporting a rear-end collision at Lincoln Avenue and 5th Street intersection.
Officer Michael Bell responded to the scene and found two vehicles involved: James R. Reed’s truck and a car driven by Andrew Wood.
In a recorded statement, Wood explained that he had been stopped in traffic for about ten seconds when Reed, 72, collided with the rear of his vehicle. He described Reed’s truck as making unusual noises, suggesting an issue with the engine.
Upon approaching Reed, Officer Bell observed him leaning on the hood of his truck, smoking a cigarette. Reed admitted fault for the accident and expressed difficulty stopping his vehicle. However, Officer Bell noted signs of possible intoxication, including slurred speech and glassy eyes.
During their interaction, Reed confirmed he had consumed “a couple of beers” earlier in the day. Concerned for Reed’s safety, Officer Bell assisted him back to his vehicle, where he detected the odor of alcohol. Following protocol, Reed was asked to take a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT), which indicated a blood alcohol content of 0.172, significantly above the legal limit.
Given Reed’s physical disabilities, Officer Bell opted not to administer Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Instead, Reed consented to a blood draw at IU Health Bedford, where two vials of blood were collected for further testing. Following the medical assessment, Reed was transported to the Lawrence County Jail on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and OWI endangerment. His truck was released to his son.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
