Putnam County—Indiana State Police Troopers from the Putnamville Post arrested a suspected drunk driver early this morning believed to have caused an estimated $40,000 dollars in property damage.

At 11:19PM last evening, Putnam County E-911 received a call from a motorist reporting a suspected impaired driver traveling eastbound on US 40 from the Clay/Putnam County line. The suspect vehicle was a white 1998 Chevrolet Silverado pickup. Reporting callers stated the pickup was traveling at speeds ranging from 40 miles-per-hour to 100mph and would on occasion, veer into the westbound lanes and then back into the eastbound lanes. Minutes later, Putnam County E-911 and the ISP Putnamville Post began receiving multiple calls from residents in the Apple Blossom Subdivision reporting a white pickup truck “inside Apple Blossom hitting everything.”

Indiana State Police Troopers Michael Organ and Marcus Tow, along with Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies, were dispatched to the area. First arriving were the troopers and they located extensive damage consisting of broken utility poles with lines down, damaged mailboxes and signs, and tire tracks in numerous yards. A short time later, another cell call reported a white truck had struck the guardrail along US 40 and the main entrance sign to Apple Blossom.

At 12:39AM, ISP Trooper Michael Organ located the white pickup in the median of US 40 approximately ¼ east of the Apple Blossom Subdivision and near Putnam County road 625 West. Further investigation found the pickup had been traveling east from the main entrance of Apple Blossom, struck a parked semi trailer, traveled through the median and into the westbound lanes. The driver then attempted to travel westbound on US40 and struck the guardrail on the north side of the roadway with the vehicle coming to rest in the median.

The driver was identified as Christopher M. Barrow, age 26, of Brazil, IN. Barrow was placed into custody by Troopers Michael Organ and Marcus Tow and transported to the Putnam County Jail. Barrow was preliminarily charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Felony; OWI-Endangering a Person, Class A misdemeanor; and Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash.

Electrical service was interrupted this morning in the Apple Blossom area due to the extensive damage to utility poles allegedly caused by Barrow. Duke Energy estimated their damage at $30,000. Another $10,000 is estimated for damage to private property and the suspect’s vehicle.

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.