A rollover crash in West Bloomfield on Thursday evening led not only to traffic disruptions and downed utility lines, but also to the arrest of the town’s fire chief on drunken driving charges.
Ontario County Sheriff’s deputies responded around 7:53 p.m. to Routes 5 and 20 after a 2017 Volvo V60 driven by William Marlowe Shephard, 27, of Brooklyn, crossed the center line, veered off the roadway, struck a utility pole and rolled over multiple times. The crash snapped the pole in half and brought down power lines, prompting a response from National Grid.
Deputies said their investigation determined Shephard was operating the vehicle at an imprudent speed and while using a mobile device. He was issued citations for both violations and transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. He is scheduled to appear in West Bloomfield Town Court at a later date.
While deputies were investigating the crash, they discovered that West Bloomfield Fire Chief Ronald Harold Smith, 63, of Lima, had responded to the scene in his personal vehicle and appeared to be intoxicated. Deputies conducted a roadside investigation that resulted in Smith’s arrest.
Smith was charged with driving while intoxicated and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was issued appearance tickets and will also answer the charges in West Bloomfield Town Court at a later date. Multiple emergency agencies responded to assist with the crash, including Honeoye Falls Ambulance, Ionia Fire Department, West Bloomfield Fire Department and East Bloomfield Fire Department.
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