Two separate OVI arrests kept Portsmouth police busy, including one driver accused of crashing into another vehicle and fleeing on a damaged truck missing a tire.
🚨 HIT-SKIP ENDS BEHIND SCIOTO RIBBER
Just after 6 p.m., witnesses reported a crash involving a black car and a truck on 2nd Street.
But instead of stopping, witnesses said the truck took off toward the college area—even though it was reportedly missing a front tire after the crash.
Witnesses were able to provide police with a license plate number.
Officers soon located the damaged truck parked behind Scioto Ribber.
Police arrested Jeffery Mason and charged him with:
- OVI
- Hit-skip
- Failure to control
- Driving left of center
- Seatbelt violation
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 14.
🚓 SPEEDING CAR LEADS TO SECOND OVI ARREST
Then around 2 a.m., officers spotted another vehicle speeding down Union Street.
Police conducted field sobriety testing and took the driver into custody.
Officers impounded the vehicle and had it towed.
Police booked Derrick Baker into the Scioto County Jail on charges of:
- OVI
- Running a stop sign
He later appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court, posted bail, and is due back in court June 29 for a pre-trial hearing.
⚠️ WHY HIT-SKIP OVI CASES ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS
OVI crashes become even more serious when drivers leave the scene.
A damaged vehicle fleeing through city streets can:
- Cause additional crashes
- Put pedestrians at risk
- Delay medical help for victims
- Make investigations harder
In this case, witnesses paying attention to the vehicle description and license plate helped officers quickly track the truck down.