Tippecanoe County-Sunday at approximately 7:29 a.m. on I-65 southbound near the 178 mile marker (that is near the SR 43 /178 exit), a trooper on patrol comes across a vehicle hung up on the cable barriers and ends up taking the driver to jail on criminal charges.
Trooper Tyler Stinson was on duty patrolling I-65 near the 178 MM when he came upon a gold 2008 Lincoln stuck on top of the cable barriers with the driver standing outside of the vehicle. Trooper Stinson stopped to talk to the driver who was not injured and started to investigate the crash.
As he continued talking to the driver, he could detect the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the driver who has been identified as Jackie S. Smith, 39 of Middletown, OH. As Trooper Stinson continued his investigation, indicators of criminal activity were present with discovery of cocaine and marijuana being located in the vehicle.
Smith was arrested and charged with Operating While Intoxicated-Refusal a Misdemeanor, Possession of Cocaine a Class 4 Felony and Possession of Marijuana a Misdemeanor. He was lodged into the Tippecanoe County Jail. The investigation is continuing.
Assisting at the scene was Trooper Tyler Bentlage and Jim’s Garage. Contact the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office for a picture of Smith.
Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
