Bloomfield man wrecks near Greene-Monroe line

Timothy W. Paton, 26, Bloomfield, was arrested early Monday after a one-vehicle accident in which alcohol was believed to be a factor.

Paton was driving a 1997 Toyota Camry on State Road 45 near the Greene-Monroe county line when the accident occurred around 3:30 a.m.

Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Inman reported that Paton stated a drunk had swerved at him so he ran off the roadway which caused him to hit a ditch and then a tree.

Both Paton and one passenger were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. The airbags deployed and neither the driver nor passenger were injured.

However, Inman said Paton failed field sobriety testing and registered .18 BAC on a breathalyzer.

Paton was taken into custody and booked into the Greene County Jail on preliminary charges of three counts related to operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Paton was released from jail Monday on $4,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing on Sept. 14.

Both the Eastern Fire Department and Center Township Fire Departments also responded to the scene of the accident.