Hunter
05/05/23
A Solon man has been arrested after tests showed he had a blood alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit when he crashed his truck in February.
23-year-old Chase Connelly was reportedly driving a 2007 GMC Sierra on Sutliff Road February 28th just before midnight when he went off the road and hit a power pole in a private yard. The nearby homeowner called the accident in to authorities, and stated that Connelly was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Upon contact, Connelly reportedly had bloodshot watery eyes, had slurred speech and the odor of ingested alcohol. He also allegedly told ambulance staff on scene that he had ingested 6 to 7 drinks that were a combination of beers and hard liquors. Connelly consented to a blood draw, and results from the DCI lab showed his blood-alcohol level at the time was .314, nearly four times the legal limit. Traces of cocaine were also reportedly detected.
Connelly was arrested Thursday and charged with OWI first offense and failure to maintain control. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to a year in jail.
