A driver’s attempt at an illegal U-turn reportedly caused an accident and his subsequent arrest.
A Marshall County Sheriff’s Department report indicates that on Monday afternoon 39-year-old Gary Hurst of South Bend was traveling north on U.S. 31 south of Veteran’s Parkway in Marshall County when he abruptly decided to perform an illegal U-turn at an emergency vehicle turn area. Police say his action caused several other drivers to suddenly brake and swerve to miss hitting his vehicle.
One vehicle swerved off the road into the grassy median to avoid other vehicles, when it struck Hurst’s vehicle as it was in the middle of the U-turn.
As officers were at the scene, it was suspected that Hurst was impaired. An investigation was conducted and Hurst was later arrested on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle with a BAC of .15% or higher with a prior conviction, and operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator.
The driver of the second vehicle, 20-year-old Makenzi Le Rae Stallings of Mishawaka, and a passenger were taken to the Plymouth hospital for minor injuries.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by the Plymouth Fire Department and Lyon’s Towing.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
