North Carolina men face DUI charges after crash on U.S. 321
Published 9:03 am Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Two race fans were arrested on alcohol-related charges after a crash Saturday night after the race.
Daniel J. Mitchell, 44, 319 Slabtown Road, Zionville, N.C., was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
John Bradley Vines, 44, 156 Carriage Lamp Court, Boone, N.C., was arrested and charged with driving under the influence by consent.
Carter County Sheriff’s Department Deputy David Caldwell responded to the wreck on Highway 321 shortly after 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
On arrival, he reported he found Mitchell driving one of the vehicles and that he had a “strong odor of alcohol.”
Caldwell wrote in his report that when asked if he had been drinking, Mitchell responded that he had not and said that he “had been doing landscaping for his mother.”
Caldwell wrote he asked Mitchell to complete field sobriety tests several times, to which he said Mitchell responded “Take me on to jail. I can’t do the tests.”
Caldwell then spoke to Vines, who was a passenger in the vehicle. Vines reportedly told Caldwell they had been to the race at Bristol Motor Speedway and had been drinking.
“Mr. Vines stated that he knew Mr. Mitchell had drank some beers but believed him to be fine to drive,” Caldwell wrote.
He said he again asked Mitchell how many drinks he had and Mitchell responded “four or five.”
The men were then arrested and taken to the Carter County Detention Center.