A man from Eldon, Missouri, suffered injuries requiring hospitalization in an accident during which his vehicle struck a utility pole and a tree. A little more than an hour following the accident, while the driver was still in the hospital receiving treatment, authorities arrested him on DWI charges.

According to reports, the driver ran the car off the left side of the roadway after overcorrecting to avoid running off the right side. Reportedly, he was not wearing a seat belt at the time. The crash occurred in Miller County on Route Y very early on a Sunday morning. It is unclear whether the account of the crash comes from eyewitness reports or post-accident analysis by law enforcement.

An ambulance transported the driver to a nearby hospital for injuries described as serious. Authorities arrested the man while he was at the hospital receiving treatment on multiple charges. However, due to the need for him to receive medical attention, they released him on summons. Charges include not having insurance, not wearing a seatbelt, DWI and failure to stay on the right side of the roadway, resulting in an accident.

It is unclear whether authorities administered any testing to determine driver impairment. The driver’s current medical condition is unknown, nor is it known whether he remains in the hospital or has gone to jail.

What is clear is that injuries from a car crash will not prevent authorities from bringing drunk driving charges if they have reason to believe it is appropriate to do so. When facing charges while simultaneously recovering from injuries, it may be helpful to contact an attorney.