OAKHURST – CHP has confirmed that a local man was arrested on charges of driving under the influence following a solo-vehicle crash that resulted in a small vegetation fire on Sunday, Oct. 4.
At about 9:23 p.m., according to CHP, Eric Michael Ogden, 23, and two passengers, both 24, were traveling in V1-Jetta northbound on Highway 41 south of Road 630.
CHP reports that Ogden was operating his vehicle at an unsafe speed while intoxicated, and drove off the roadway on the east side and down an embankment. The car came to a complete stop and the vegetation beneath it caught fire. All passengers exited vehicle safely.
Fire personnel responded to the scene to extinguish the fire, which was stopped at about 100 feet in size and no injuries were claimed. When CHP arrived on scene, Ogden was evaluated and reportedly determined to be Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. Ogden was arrested at the scene of the collision for DUI and was booked into the Madera County Jail.
