PARK RAPIDS, MINN. — One man is in custody after allegedly drunk driving which caused his semi-truck to catch on fire, according to the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office.
On Oct. 25 at 5:48 p.m., the Hubbard County Sherrif's Office received a report of a semi-tractor and trailer driving carelessly north of Park Rapids on Highway 71.
According to the press release, as deputies responded, dispatch officers received a second report that this semi had pulled into the Leading Edge Mechanical on 129th Avenue and had now caught on fire. Then the Park Rapids Fire Department was dispatched to the scene along with the sheriff's deputies.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the driver was still in the truck, confused and disorientated. Firefighters removed the driver from the now fully engulfed truck.
Sherriff's deputies arrived and identified the driver as 57-year old Shawn Nelson of East Grand Forks. Nelson said that he was hauling a load of wheat from Thief River Falls to Hastings.
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While speaking to Nelson, deputies detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage, bloodshot and watery eyes, and slurred speech.
Deputies administrated a sobriety test which Nelson failed and resulted in his arrest.
Nelson was transported to the Hubbard County Jail where he agreed to a breath test. Nelson tested a .20 on the breath test and was charged with a third-degree driving under the influence charge.
The semi was a total loss due to the fire. There was also damage to the business due to the fire and heat.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office.
