W’burg man charged with DUI after second crash in 30 days

A Williamsburg man charged with driving while impaired in connection with an accident nearly four weeks ago was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly driving while under the influence and striking another vehicle head-on, police said.
The wreck happened about 10:35 a.m. about 200 yards north of IGA on US25W.
Daniel Baird, 21, was driving a 2002 GMC pick-up truck north on US25W when he crossed the center line, and struck a 1997 Jeep Cherokee driven by Misty D. Walker, 23, of Williamsburg, said Williamsburg Police Officer Jason Caddell.
“I talked to a couple of witnesses, who said Mr. Baird was going up Town Hill. They observed him cross the center line two or three times. He was weaving all across the road. By the time Ms. Walker was coming around the curve, he was a good two feet over in her lane,” Caddell said. “She got over against the guard rail, but there wasn’t much she could do.”
Caddell said Baird was also arrested about a month ago, and was charged with DUI after being involved in an accident in front of Cumberland Regional Mall.
“From what I was told, it was a hit and run, and he left the scene of the accident, and they found him,” Caddell noted.
District court records indicate Baird was charged with driving while under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident on Oct. 7.
The two vehicles struck head-on, and were totaled. Caddell estimates that Baird was driving 40 to 45 mph, and that Walker was going about 30 mph.
“There was no sign that either one of them had time to hit their brakes. They collided as they came around the curve,” Caddell said. “The impact of the wreck crunched up both driver’s side doors, and we couldn’t get into the driver’s side of either vehicle.”
Members of the Williamsburg-Whitley County Rescue Squad had to extricate Walker from her vehicle. Whitley County EMS transported her to Jellico Community Hospital where she was admitted with a possible punctured lung, which was the most serious injury.
Caddell charged Baird with second-degree assault, and driving while under the influence aggravating circumstances.
If Walker’s injuries prove to be more severe, the assault charge could be raised to first-degree.
Second-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, compared to first degree assault which is punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison upon conviction.
“I’m still not sure how bad her injuries are. We will just have to wait and see,” Caddell noted. “If they hadn’t been wearing their seatbelts, then I think the injuries would have been a lot more severe than they were.”
Caddell said Baird was apparently under the influence of prescription drugs at the time of the wreck.
“We didn’t find anything on him. When I got there, and started talking to him, he said he was under the influence of something. I could not smell any alcohol on him,” Caddell said. “He advised me he was taking a nerve pill, and had taken a pain pill earlier today. He told me the pain pill was not prescribed to him.”
Baird suffered a small cut to his leg, and possibly a sprained or twisted ankle.
He refused medical treatment, so the extent of his injuries aren’t known, Caddell said.
Baird refused to provide police with a blood or urine sample, and officers obtained a search warrant to obtain a blood sample, which was taken at Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin.
Baird was lodged in the Whitley County Jail.
Officers assisting at the scene included: Kentucky State Police Trooper Mike Witt, Williamsburg Police Detective Wayne Bird, and Williamsburg Police Officers Tresa Gray, Russell Jones, Mike Taylor along with the Williamsburg Fire Department, and numerous other emergency personnel.