Vigo County—This morning, Indiana State Police Trooper Mark Overpeck was working on Interstate 70 in the Terre Haute area as part of the ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division’s Crash Reduction Plan. The plan is part of an ongoing multi-faceted effort by the department to reduce the risk of a crash, prevent future crashes, and ultimately save lives on Indiana highways.

At 9:00 a.m., Trooper Overpeck radar tracked a tractor-trailer westbound on I-70 near the 6 mile marker at 73 miles-per-hour in a 60 mph zone. The location is very near to the start of an Indiana Department of Highways construction zone with reduced speeds and lane restrictions. The tractor-trailer was stopped and further investigation by Trooper Overpeck detected the smell of what appeared to be an alcoholic beverage on the breath of the driver. The driver was taken to the Vigo County jail for a certified breath test with the results indicating the driver was in violation of Indiana law prohibiting commercial vehicle drivers from operating a commercial vehicle with a breath alcohol content of .04% to .08%. For the alcohol violation, the driver and tractor-trailer were placed out of service for 24 hours at the Clear Creek Rest Area located on I-70 at the 1mm.

The driver was identified as Max L. Bawell, age 42, of Willow Hill, Pennsylvania.

Traffic citations were issued to Bawell for Operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle with a BAC of .04% to .08% and speeding 73mph in a 60mph zone, both infractions. During the inspection of the tractor-trailer and Bawell, Trooper Overpeck also found log violations which were noted on the federal commercial vehicle inspection report; however, no log book citations were issued.

Bawell was driving for Chambersburg Transfer LLC enroute from McConnellsburg, PA to Republic, MO hauling a boom lift machine on a flatbed trailer.

Assisting during the stop were ISP Master Troopers Hans Nowak and Chuck Tharp.

 Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.