COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A former Coldwater man who was charged in connection with a crash in April of 2021 near the intersection of Marshall and Taylor was ordered to serve six months in the Branch County Jail on Monday in Circuit Court.
47-year-old Raymond Arnold Root of Springfield was also placed on probation for 18 months.
Root entered a no contest plea to operating a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana causing serious injury. In exchange for his plea, three other charges were dismissed by prosecutors. Root was given credit for three days already served. He will have to pay over $500 in fines and costs.
During his probation, Root can not possess alcohol or drugs and he has to stay out of bars. He must also submit to searches without a warrant and he can not have weapons.
A warrant for Root’s arrest was issued in June of 2021. He was booked into the Branch County Jail on August 31, 2023.
Coldwater Police investigated the crash. It was stated by the investigating officer in court documents that Root’s vehicle was traveling south on Marshall at a high rate of speed which led to a rear end collision with another vehicle.
The vehicle which was hit then crashed into a Coldwater Board of Public Utilties pole which caused about 50 CBPU customers to lose their power.
The 60-year-old driver of the vehicle which was hit suffered fractures to her back and ribs which required surgery. Police say a blood draw on the suspect revealed drugs in his system but no alcohol.
Comments