By Meghan McCormick
A Norman man who allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign east of Noble earlier this month and caused a two-vehicle crash faces criminal charges in regards to the accident.
Cleveland County prosecutors charged James L. Lowe, 45, on Monday with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor?personal injury accident?causing great bodily harm.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Brian Ozment was assigned to investigate a two-vehicle accident with injury Aug. 19 at the intersection of 120th Avenue SE and Cemetery Road.
Ozment reported Lowe was driving a 1995 Ford Ranger pickup eastbound on Cemetery Road. Lowe failed to stop at the stop sign at the 120th Avenue SE intersection and struck a 1996 BMW motorcycle driven by Randal Brown, 47, of Lexington, according to Ozment's report.
Ozment said when he contacted Lowe at the scene, he could smell a strong odor of alcohol on him. Lowe had glassy eyes and he was "unsteady on his feet," according to the affidavit.
Lowe told Ozment he had consumed alcohol in the last few hours before the crash, according to court papers. Ozment arrested Lowe at the scene and transported him to the Cleveland County Detention Center.
His bond was set at $2,500, according to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department. He was released from jail Aug. 20.
According to Ozment's collision report, Brown suffered leg injuries. Noble firefighter/EMTs stabilized and transported Brown to Slaughterville Fire Station No. 2 near 84th Avenue SE and Cemetery Road.
That's where a landing zone was set up for Air Evac out of Pauls Valley. Air Evac transported Brown to Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City, according to Ozment. He was admitted in serious condition.
Ozment said Lowe was not injured in the wreck. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. No court date for Lowe has been set yet.
Meghan McCormick
366-3539
mmccormick@normantranscript.com
