Troopers arrest alleged habitual OVI offender in Butler County

On Aug. 30 at approximately 10:56 P.M. Troopers stopped a vehicle on state Route 747 near Smith Road in West Chester Township for marked lanes and failure to wear seatbelt violations.  

The driver, Darby Smith, 42, of Middletown, was allegedly found to be impaired and arrested for OVI and driving under OVI suspension. This offense is Mr. Smith’s sixth arrest for operating a vehicle intoxicated in the last 20 years, and his third felony OVI arrest in the last 10 years. Mr. Smith was incarcerated in the Butler County Jail.

The arrest comes during the Patrol’s crackdown on impaired driving for the Labor Day holiday weekend and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. During the 2023 Labor Day holiday weekend, there were 23 fatal crashes that resulted in 24 deaths on Ohio roads. Of those, 16 crashes and 17 fatalities involved alcohol and/or drugs, along with 10 fatalities involving unbelted drivers.

Motorists are encouraged to safely dial #677 to report impaired drivers and drug activity on Ohio’s roadways to the Patrol.     

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