A man from Watkins went on what appears to be an alcohol-fueled joyride through Stearns County, crashing his vehicle at least twice, according to the sheriff’s office. The first crash occurred Friday morning around 8:35 a.m. near 4th Street West and River Street in Holdingford. Witnesses reported the badly damaged vehicle to dispatch, which was also confirmed by the man’s cell phone. As first responders headed to the scene, witnesses observed the man driving away. They followed him and saw him drive into the roadside ditch at the intersection of County Road 9 and County Road 151.
Investigators believe the man initially disregarded a stop sign, drove into a field, and struck another sign before returning to the road and ending up in the ditch, where deputies and first responders apprehended him. The man, whose name was not released, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the crashes.