Justin Smith, who was trapped in his 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier for 30 minutes, was taken to Salem Hospital and discharged.An off-duty Marion County deputy was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving on Monday in an accident that sent a 24-year-old to the hospital.
The crash happened shortly before midnight. Justin Smith, 24 was stopped in an eastbound lane on
in a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, waiting to turn north onto Turner Road. Just then the off-duty deputy, 61-year-old Dennis Parson, was driving his 1978 Chevrolet pickup west on Kuebler Boulevard, heading towards Smith.
The 24-year-old, who spotted Parson and tried to get out of the way, was hit on the passenger’s door, according to the
. Parson’s pickup rolled on its side, slid on Kueber Boulevard and then turned right side up.
The sheriff’s office said Smith was trapped in his vehicle for about 30 minutes before being extricated by fire personnel. He was taken to
where he was treated and discharged, a hospital official said.
Dennis ParsonParson, who was not injured, was arrested for driving under the influence, assault in the third degree and recklessly endangering another person. The sheriff’s office said that he had a blood alcohol level of .227 — almost three times the legal limit under .08 percent.
Parson has been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated, said Don Thomson, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.
“We will allow the criminal process to take its course,” Thomson said. “We will also be conducting an internal investigation. The sheriff is very adamant about the accountability of his deputies.”
Parson has worked as a correction’s officer at the sheriff’s office since 1980.
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