Driver arrested after vehicle hits house, in west Beatrice

BEATRICE – A Beatrice man has been arrested after the vehicle he was driving early Friday morning, struck a house in west Beatrice.

50-year-old Donald L. Myers, Jr. was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, willful reckless driving, criminal mischief and having no operator’s license. 

At around 12:15 Friday morning, police were told of a rollover accident at eleven-hundred West Mary Street.   An officer arriving observed a vehicle, a Dodge Durango laying on the passenger side….and saw damage to a residence at the scene….owned by Lance Brinkman.  The incident report listed damage to the home at $10,000.

A male was still inside the vehicle and would not give his identity. Beatrice Fire and Rescue medics called to the scene detected the odor of an alcohol beverage in the vehicle.  Authorities identified the man by locating his wallet, and a records check indicated the man’s driver’s license had expired.

Police said the Durango…owned by another person… apparently traveled from West Scott Street, north onto South Bell Street. Investigators said the vehicle had swerved, going from gravel to grass off the east side of Bell Street and back onto the gravel.  It then went onto the grass off the east side of the street, clipped an electric pole anchor with its passenger side tire.  The vehicle then veered off the west side of the street and struck the northeast corner of the house.  There was no report of injury to anyone in the home.

Myers Jr. was taken to Beatrice Community Hospital.  Paramedics reported to officers that the man stated he had been at a local bar, and had six to ten beers. He was later taken to the Gage County Sheriff’s Office for preliminary alcohol testing…and was being held in the Gage County Jail.