Man Crashes into Utility Pole, Charged with Fifth OWI

By Joe Bachman

A 25-year-old man faces charges of his fifth OWI after police say he drove under the influence and crashed into a utility pole.

Josiah Voss, of Wisconsin Rapids, is charged with his fifth offense of operating while intoxicated.

According to police reports, on Apr. 3, officers were dispatched to the area of County Highway C and County Highway E in the Town of Wood regarding a report of an accident. A black Chevy pickup truck crashed into a utility pole. Voss allegedly told the complainant that he did not want police involved, and left the scene of the accident before police arrived.

Inside the truck were various pieces of mail belonging to Voss, as well as his birth certificate. Officers then visited Voss at a residence he was staying at on the 6500 block of Bethel Rd. Officers made contact with Voss, who notably had cuts on his face, and a bloody t-shirt in a bag.

Voss allegedly admitted that he had too much to drink, and shouldn't have been driving. According to reports, Voss's eyes were bloodshot and smelled of intoxicants. Wisconsin DOT records show that this was Voss's fifth charge of operating while intoxicated.

If convicted, Voss faces up to six years imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 3.