Hunter
02/23/21
An Ottumwa man has been arrested after rolling his vehicle and then using a cutting torch on roadway cables to try to get out of the ditch.
According to authorities, the incident occurred on westbound Route 80 near the 234 mile marker Monday afternoon around 1:30. 44-year-old Robert Lothridge reportedly rolled his Chevy Tahoe and a deputy was called about a vehicle blocking a lane of traffic. He came upon Lothridge and a woman attempting to remove the stuck vehicle from the ditch. It was observed that three cable barriers had been cut.
Upon questioning, Lothridge was identified as using a cutting torch to sever the cables so that he could try to get his Tahoe out of the ditch. The cables, owned by the state Department of Transportation, will cost around $5000 to replace.
A check of Lothridge’s driving record showed his status as barred through October 2031 after multiple offenses, going back to 2003.
Lothridge was charged with 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief and Driving While Barred. He could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison if convicted.
