A Findlay man has been sentenced to community control for crashing his vehicle while driving drunk and injuring his passengers.
Korey Bell Jr., 20, appeared Thursday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman.
He was indicted in November for aggravated vehicular assault, a third-degree felony; and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them/OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor.
In March, he pleaded guilty to vehicular assault, a fourth-degree felony, and the OVI charge.
On Oct. 14 at 3:10 a.m., Bell was operating a 2010 Buick Lacrosse and attempted to negotiate the southbound off ramp at Eagleville Road and I-75 when he drove off the road, crossed the on ramp, and struck a ditch.
According to court documents, he provided a breath sample of 0.139.
Bell and his front seat passenger were not injured.
Two back seat passengers, ages 21 and 18, sustained serious injuries including possible head trauma and were transported by North Baltimore EMS to Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay, according to the crash report.
According to defense attorney Sara Roller, it was family who were injured.
He has learned his lesson of drinking and driving, she said.
“When somebody’s injured, the court has to take it seriously,” Kuhlman said.
He sentenced Bell to the SEARCH program at the Northwest Community Corrections Center, where he will enter a six-month-maximum treatment program designed to assist residents with making positive behavioral changes. He also must enter into the youthful offender program.
After his release from SEARCH, Bell will serve three years on community control with a continuous alcohol monitor for three months.
