On Friday, Michael Joseph States, a 33-year-old man from Charlestown Township, was charged in relation to a hit-and-run incident that took place the previous morning in Ravenna, Ohio. The incident resulted in injuries to two individuals, leading to the police charging States with various offenses including a fifth-degree felony for failing to stop after an accident on a public road. In addition, he faces two first-degree misdemeanors for operating a vehicle under the influence and refusal to submit to chemical tests, along with an unclassified misdemeanor for driving under suspension. States was scheduled to appear for arraignment on Friday in the Portage County Municipal Court located in Ravenna.
The hit-and-run occurred around 11:45 a.m. on Thursday at the intersection of West Main Street and Beach Street. Initial reports from the scene described a single vehicle involved in the accident with the driver trapped inside. Emergency responders from the Ravenna Fire Department were required to cut the door off the vehicle to extricate the man, who was then transported to University Hospitals Portage Medical Center. The passenger, a woman, was aided by bystanders and also received medical attention. At the hospital, the woman was found to be in a neck brace with sustained injuries, while the man was experiencing severe pain and was unable to provide information to the police at that time.
Witnesses at the scene did not directly observe the crash but reported seeing a blue truck fleeing westbound shortly after. One witness was able to follow the vehicle, obtaining its registration number and watching as it turned into the parking lot of the Portage County Emergency Operations Center in Ravenna Township. After this information was relayed, the Ohio State Highway Patrol located the abandoned truck in the parking lot, with States found walking westbound nearby on State Route 59. Upon encountering police, States admitted to being the driver at the time of the incident, acknowledging that he had consumed alcohol about two hours prior.
Upon his interaction with law enforcement, officers detected the strong smell of alcohol and observed that States’ eyes were “bloodshot and glassy.” His behavior during field sobriety tests suggested impairment, leading officers to suspect that he was under the influence of alcohol. However, States chose to refuse chemical tests that would have further assessed his blood alcohol content. He had previously been booked into the Portage County Jail late Wednesday, where additional processing took place.
Further investigation into States’ driving history revealed that his driver’s license had been suspended following a conviction for operating a vehicle under the influence earlier in January. Although the suspension was set to expire in July, States failed to take the necessary steps to reinstate his driving privileges. Additionally, he is facing another charge for driving under suspension stemming from a case filed by the Portage County Sheriff’s Office in October. This history of violations paints a concerning picture regarding his adherence to traffic laws and regulations.
As the legal proceedings continue, the incident raises significant concerns about road safety, particularly regarding individuals driving under the influence and the repercussions following a hit-and-run. While the victims of the crash recover from their injuries, the case against States will unfold in court, with the potential for serious legal consequences as a result of his actions during the crash and his ongoing violations of driving laws.
