A 21-year-old Hopkins County man is in jail after police say he caused several crashes just before a funeral procession in Madisonville.
Around 1:45 p.m. Monday, a patrolman for the police department alerted dispatch that his cruiser and several other cars were struck by another driver.
According to police, this happened as the officer was preparing to escort a funeral procession outside of Harris Funeral Home.
Investigators say a Ford F-150, driven by John T. Oakley, was heading southbound on N. Main Street when he struck two utility poles.
Police say he continued driving in the southbound lanes until crossing over the median and into oncoming traffic.
Officers said Oakley then hit the driver’s side of a Chevy Cavalier and then the rear driver’s side of the patrolman’s cruiser.
According to Madisonville Police Department, Oakley continued south and struck a Hyundai Elantra head-on, and then a Dodge Ram pickup truck head-on.
The driver of the Chevy Cavalier and their passenger were taken to the hospital for their injuries.
The passenger of the Hyundai Elantra was also taken to the hospital and later flown to a different hospital.
Oakley was arrested and charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle while Under the Influence, Possession of an Open Alcoholic Beverage Container in Motor Vehicle, Volatile Substance Abuse, two counts of Assault, three counts of Wanton Endangerment, and five counts of Wanton Endangerment.
Police reports show he admitted to huffing air duster before the crash.
Officers say Oakley told them he passed out, which caused the crash.
He’s being held in the Hopkins County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond.
Source: WBKO
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