Bowling Green Police arrested a Cygnet man in the early hours of Saturday (Nov. 18) after he reportedly struck three parked vehicles, then flipped his car onto its roof in the middle of the street. A pedestrian reportedly had to run to a sidewalk to avoid being hit.
Taylor Hunter, 33, was arrested for fleeing police, OVI with a blood alcohol content of 0.158, speeding, improper display of license plates, stop sign violation, failure to signal, red light violation, operation in willful or wanton disregard of safety, and failure to maintain control. His driver’s license was confiscated.
Around 2 a.m., an officer reportedly saw Hunter exceeding the speed limit while driving northbound on North Prospect Street near Court Street and rolling through a stop sign. The officer followed the vehicle, then attempted to stop the Volkswagen SUV, which did not have a visible license plate in the back.
The vehicle reportedly accelerated rapidly away from the police vehicle.
Hunter turned southbound onto North Prospect Street, picked up speed, and reportedly ran two red lights at East Court and East Wooster streets. A pedestrian in the crosswalk at North Prospect and East Court street reportedly had to run to avoid being hit by the vehicle.
Hunter continued southbound on South Prospect Street. He reportedly lost control of the vehicle in the 100 block of South Prospect and started swerving. The SUV then struck three parked vehicles on the east side of the road, overturned, and made a full rotation while on its roof.
Two of the parked cars were destroyed in the crash, according to the police report.
Two officers approached the vehicle, and found Hunter inside. One officer cut an airbag to access Hunter, who was able to exit the vehicle through the driver’s window. EMS checked him out, and Hunter said he was uninjured.
Police found a bottle of pain medication in the vehicle. Hunter reportedly told police he was the designated driver for the night, and he just panicked and took off in his vehicle. He reportedly told police he consumed just two alcoholic beverages, though he listed off several types of drinks he may have had.
Hunter was taken to the police station for field sobriety tests, which he reportedly had trouble performing. He had a prior OVI conviction in 2019 through Findlay Municipal Court.
Hunter was taken to Wood County Hospital to be medically cleared before being taken to Wood County Jail.
