Formal Charges Filed Against Grand Forks Man After Accident

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(KNOX) – Court records reveal that formal charges have been filed against a Grand Forks man accused of driving drunk and crashing into a traffic signal pole.

Orton Andrews, 45, faces five charges, including two felony DUI counts, possession of cocaine, aggravated reckless driving, and criminal mischief.

New details about the crash at Gateway Drive and North Columbia Road. The records say that Andrews was driving at a high rate of speed on snow-covered roads when his pick-up left the roadway. The truck went up a five to six-foot snow embankment and struck the traffic signal pole on the southeast corner of the intersection.

Police said that Andrews refused to perform field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test. After his arrest police found 2.7 grams of cocaine in his jacket pocket, which tested positive with a field test kit. Andrews initially consented to a chemical breath test but then refused when in front of the testing instrument.

This was Andrews’ fourth DUI offense in two different states. He’s being held at the Grand Forks County Jail.