Photo courtesy of Sandusky Register
SANDUSKY, Ohio — Some 28 people were injured in a hayride accident that occurred the night of Oct. 22 in Perkins Township, Erie County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Michael L. Hermes, 47, of Sandusky, was driving a Case MXM 190 farm tractor on Patten-Tract Road, pulling two hay wagons, each containing 30-40 passengers.
The tractor reportedly drove off the right side of the road causing the rear wagon to overturn, ejecting and injuring the passengers.
The passengers were transported by ambulance to Firelands Hospital in Sandusky, Bellevue Hospital in Bellevue, and to Fisher Titus Hospital in Norwalk.
Two passengers were flown by Life Flight from Bellevue Hospital to Mercy St. Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo.
Hermes refused to take field sobriety tests and was arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He later refused an alcohol breath test and was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, aggravated vehicular assault, open container and failure to control.
In jail
He was incarcerated at the Erie County Jail and was expected to appear in Sandusky Municipal Court Oct. 25.
The crash remains under investigation and Hermes’ blood alcohol results were not available at presstime.
Hermes was uninjured in the crash. The tractor and wagons were driven home by a family friend.
The patrol was assisted by Perkins Police Dept., Perkins Fire and EMS, Sandusky Fire and EMS, Huron Fire and EMS, Margaretta Fire and EMS, and North Central EMS.
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