Springfield police arrested a 52-year-old Springfield man Monday night on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after he hit another vehicle, then drove his own car into a telephone pole, causing his car to catch fire, police said.
"We were able to put the fire out and pull him out," said police spokesman Cpl. Matt Brown.
A 35-year-old Battlefield resident who was in the car that was hit was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash occurred around 11:22 p.m. Monday near 1915 W. Sunshine Street.
The victim had been driving west on Sunshine but was in the left-turn lane waiting to go south on Kansas Express when he was hit from behind, said Brown.
The driver who caused the accident has not yet been charged. In addition to driving while intoxicated, he could be charged with an alcohol-related second-degree assault, said Brown.
Monday, June 21, 2011 11:00 p.m.