Crash results in man's arrest, OVI charge

Editor's note: Joseph Jones is a Register correspondent representing vermiliondaily.com. VERMILION — A Vermilion man is facing charges following a one-vehicle crash Sunday morning that left a utility pole destroyed along a busy road, according to a Vermilion police report. Just before 11:30 a.m., police arrived at the 900 block of State St. (Ohio 60) for a wreck involving a truck and a utility pole. Upon arrival, officers observed the pole had been broken in half with exposed wires hanging into the northbound lane. A gray truck with heavy front-end damage was located nearby. The alleged driver, Christopher McConnell, 42, of Vermilion, was found at the scene and confirmed to be the sole occupant of the vehicle. McConnell told officers he had fallen asleep before the crash, the report states. While speaking with him, officers noted he was unsteady on his feet and observed indicators consistent with possible impairment. Police reported that McConnell's pupils appeared constricted, and he had difficulty maintaining balance. He denied using narcotics at the time but later admitted to using heroin the night before the crash. A series of field evaluations was conducted. A portable breath test showed a result of zero, indicating no alcohol in his system. But officers continued their investigation based on observed signs of impairment. Due to safety concerns, some field sobriety tests were not completed. While securing the crash site, officers located a small plastic bag near the rear of the vehicle containing a gray substance consistent with narcotics. The substance was collected and later tested, returning a positive result for fentanyl, according to the report. McConnell was taken into custody and charged with operating a vehicle impaired, a first-degree misdemeanor, and possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. Additional citations included driving under suspension and failure to control. McConnell was transported to the Vermilion Police Station for processing and later taken to the Erie County Jail without incident. He had a scheduled appearance today in Vermilion Municipal Court. As of late Monday, he is still held in Erie County Jail under a no-bond order. His next court date is listed as Tuesday at 9 a.m., according to jail records. While no injuries were reported, the crash resulted in significant damage to infrastructure and temporarily created a hazardous road condition.