By Jeremy Pittari, Item Staff Writer
The Picayune Item
PICAYUNE —
A single vehicle accident Saturday night caused DUI charges to be pressed against the driver.
The accident on George Walker Road was called into the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department at about 9:30 p.m., said Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier.
Preliminary investigation into the accident showed the vehicle was being driven by 18-year-old Jacob Metz, of 2433 23rd Ave., Meridian, who had four juvenile passengers with him at the time, Saucier said. The passengers included two 14-year-old females, a 17 year-old female and a 17-year-old male, Saucier said.
The investigation showed that excessive speed was a likely cause of the accident, leading to Metz being unable to properly negotiate a curve in the road, Saucier said. The vehicle left the road, entered a ditch and then struck a tree, he said. Saucier said emergency personnel had to extricate the occupants of the vehicle.
One of the 14-year-old female occupants was released with no injuries, but the rest of the passengers were transported to Forrest General Hospital for treatment of critical injuries, one of whom was later transported to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Saucier said.
Deputies detected the odor of alcohol on Metz, leading them to conduct a field sobriety test and later transport him to Highland Community Hospital to submit to a blood test, Saucier said. The blood drawn from Metz at the hospital will be able to positively determine what his blood alcohol level was, if any, Saucier said.
Currently Metz is charged with DUI, no seat belt, careless driving and no proof of insurance, Saucier said. Felony charges could be placed against Metz if the test shows he had a high blood alcohol level and if any of the injured suffer permanent disabilities or dies, Saucier said.
