May 24, 2013
A man who told emergency workers he had "smoked eight blunts" of marijuana before crashing his vehicle is facing even more charges.
Kenneth Ward of New Bern was arrested early Saturday morning when his vehicle ran off Wyse Fork Road near Highway 41 in Jones County.
When first-responders arrived, investigators said they asked Ward if he had been drinking. Troopers said the man replied he had not been drinking, but had smoked eight blunts of marijuana. Later, investigators said Ward told Trooper Kirk he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
The 21-year-old old was charged with DWI, reckless driving, and no operator's license.
Deputies have since discovered that Ward has five outstanding warrants from Guilford County. They are for selling and delivering cocaine, possession of cocaine, stalking, injury to real property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Ward was re-arrested Monday and placed back in jail.
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The Highway Patrol said a 21-year-old is lucky to be alive, though he has been charged with driving while impaired after he told first-responders he had smoked marijuana before wrecking his vehicle.
Trooper Bryant Kirk told WITN 21-year-old Kenneth Ward, of Opal Street in New Bern, ran off Wyse Fork Road near Highway 41 in Jones County at 4AM on Saturday. Trooper Kirk said the vehicle flipped over, landing right-side-up in a ditch off the roadway. When first-responders arrived to attend to the driver, investigators said those first-responders asked Ward if he had been drinking. Troopers said the man replied he had not been drinking, but had smoked eight blunts of marijuana. Later, investigators said Ward told Trooper Kirk he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Ward was taken to a local hospital, where he was charged with reckless driving, no operator's license, and driving while impaired.
