CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The driver of a tractor-trailer involved in a deadly accident Saturday continued to drive nearly a half mile before stopping after he rear-ended a car on an Interstate 64 exit ramp, according to a Putnam County criminal complaint.

Breazeale W. Norris, 57, of Indianapolis, was arrested Saturday and charged Tuesday with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing death and one count of leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

Norris had been charged Monday with four counts of DUI causing injury and a DUI involving a commercial vehicle.

Those charges were amended after James Roberts, 18, of Eleanor, died early Tuesday at CAMC General Hospital from injuries sustained in the accident.

Brian Bess, 18, of Red House, and juveniles Matthew Bess and Dillon Evans also were sent to the hospital.

According to the complaint filed in Putnam Magistrate Court Tuesday, Norris rear-ended the teenagers' car while it sat at the traffic light at the top of the eastbound exit ramp off of I-64 in Teays Valley.

Norris struck the stopped car, shoving it through the intersection, the complaint states.

"Both vehicles came to a stop and then the tractor-trailer left the scene," according to the complaint.

Police found Norris with his truck about half a mile from the accident. The truck was stopped because of "mechanical failure," according to the complaint.

Police gave Norris a Breathalyzer at the scene because they said they smelled alcohol on his breath. He recorded a 0.079, and told the officer he had taken NyQuil for a cold, the complaint states.

Although 0.08 is the usual blood-alcohol limit cited in a DUI, the legal limit is 0.04 for commercial vehicles.

Norris also was charged Tuesday with three counts of DUI causing injury, three counts of leaving a scene causing injury and DUI involving a commercial vehicle.

Norris was being held Wednesday at the Western Regional Jail on $180,000 bond.

Reach Veronica Nett at veroni...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5113.

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The driver of a tractor-trailer involved in a deadly accident Saturday continued to drive nearly a half mile before stopping after he rear-ended a car on an Interstate 64 exit ramp, according to a Putnam County criminal complaint.

Breazeale W. Norris, 57, of Indianapolis, was arrested Saturday and charged Tuesday with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing death and one count of leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

Norris had been charged Monday with four counts of DUI causing injury and a DUI involving a commercial vehicle.

Those charges were amended after James Roberts, 18, of Eleanor, died early Tuesday at CAMC General Hospital from injuries sustained in the accident.

Brian Bess, 18, of Red House, and juveniles Matthew Bess and Dillon Evans also were sent to the hospital.

According to the complaint filed in Putnam Magistrate Court Tuesday, Norris rear-ended the teenagers' car while it sat at the traffic light at the top of the eastbound exit ramp off of I-64 in Teays Valley.

Norris struck the stopped car, shoving it through the intersection, the complaint states.

"Both vehicles came to a stop and then the tractor-trailer left the scene," according to the complaint.

Police found Norris with his truck about half a mile from the accident. The truck was stopped because of "mechanical failure," according to the complaint.

Police gave Norris a Breathalyzer at the scene because they said they smelled alcohol on his breath. He recorded a 0.079, and told the officer he had taken NyQuil for a cold, the complaint states.

Although 0.08 is the usual blood-alcohol limit cited in a DUI, the legal limit is 0.04 for commercial vehicles.

Norris also was charged Tuesday with three counts of DUI causing injury, three counts of leaving a scene causing injury and DUI involving a commercial vehicle.

Norris was being held Wednesday at the Western Regional Jail on $180,000 bond.

Reach Veronica Nett at veroni...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5113.