When a Leonard man, 49, ended his travels on M-24 during rush hour traffic on Oct. 21, the road was littered with vehicles he’d smashed along the way.
His hitting spree began shortly before 5 p.m.. By the time he passed Elizabeth Street, he had caused five separate accidents involving up to nine vehicles.
According to Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh, the driver finally came to a stop when he hit a truck just south of Drahner Road in Oxford Township.
It appeared, Narsh said, the man was driving his 2004 GMC Yukon Denali into the vehicles he hit. ‘He was smashing them hard, causing extensive damage,? he added. The driver was the only one taken to the hospital. Other injuries were minor.
Lake Orion Police are investigating whether it was a medical condition, alcohol or drugs that caused the man to drive out of control. ‘We’re asking for any witnesses that observed a dark green 2004 Yukon before the incident happened,? Narsh said. ‘We want to know what the driver was doing before the accident. Did anyone notice any strange driving behavior??
A report from an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy noted the Leonard driver was ‘incoherent? and ‘had a strong odor of intoxicants emanating from his person.?
‘His eyes were red and glassy, and his speech lethargic,? the sheriff’s report stated.
If anyone has any information, the Lake Orion Police Department can be reached at 248-693-8321.
Editor C.J. Carnacchio contributed to this story.