Watervliet Man Arrested Following Van Buren County Crashes

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A Watervliet man is facing charges after police say he caused two crashes Thursday afternoon while extremely drunk. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department was called to the scene of the first crash at Red Arrow Highway and 50th Street around 4:20 p.m. That collision left the other driver with a broken leg while the suspect driver fled the scene. Not long after, sheriff’s deputies were notified of another crash, this time at Red Arrow Highway and 50th Street. The victim in that incident was an 83-year-old woman who suffered no injuries, although her vehicle was heavily damaged. Police located the 53-year-old suspect in an SUV at the scene and found his blood alcohol level to be four times over the legal limit and that he had been taking prescription pain killers. He was arrested on various charges and taken to the Van Buren County Jail.