Miami County Central Dispatch received a 911 call reporting around 7:35 a.m. Tuesday morning that the driver of a Freightliner semi-tractor appeared to be slumped over his steering wheel while traveling southbound on U.S. 31 in Miami County. A deputy from the Miami County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police Sergeant Rick Brown located the Freightliner, pulled over in a lot on Eel River Cemetery Road, west of U.S. 31. Concerned that the driver, identified as Lyall Hanson, 61, Sterling Heights, MI, was suffering from a medical emergency, officers checked his welfare. The Indiana State Police say what they found were indicators that Hanson was possibly intoxicated.
Further investigation by Sergeant Brown revealed that Hanson allegedly had a blood alcohol concentration of .218. Drivers are considered intoxicated in Indiana with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. Hanson was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He was also cited for having open alcohol containers.
Hason was issued two citations under the federal motor carrier safety regulations, for operating a commercial vehicle after having consumed alcohol and for having alcohol in the truck’s cab.
Hanson was hauling general freight for Premier Transportation based in Evansville, IN.
Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911. Give your location a description of the suspect vehicle and direction of travel. Motorists should never follow an impaired driver.
