By Joe Bachman

A 29-year-old man has been charged with his sixth OWI, after police say he crashed his car into a ditch.

Randall Bakken, of Pittsville, is charged with his sixth offense of operating while intoxicated. According to police reports on Jun. 2, a call was made regarding two males walking down State Highway 73.

The officer reported that the two men were intoxicated, and one had blood on his shirt. He spoke to Bakken, who told the officer he had attempted to make a Y-turn and put his vehicle into the ditch.

It is reported that Bakken was so intoxicated that he could barely stand without falling over. He told the officer that he started drinking after he put his vehicle into the ditch.

The passenger told police that they were both drinking at a tavern, and afterwards drove past Polish Rd. past County Rd. C when Bakken attempted the Y-Turn which put the vehicle into the ditch.

After finding the car in the ditch, officers observed that it was not equipped with an ignition interlock device, which was required of Bakken from previous charges. Bakken failed all field sobriety tests.

If convicted, Bakken faces up to six years imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines. He has a pre-trial conference scheduled for Jul. 15.