A suspected drunk driver plowed into the side of a McMinnville Police SUV that was blocking Sparta Street on Friday night while officers investigated a separate DUI crash.

Billy Floyd Martin, 73, has been charged with DUI, reckless endangerment and open container for the crash involving the police car.

According to state trooper Ben Cannon, McMinnville police officers were investigating a Friday night crash on Sparta Street in front of Chabelita’s that involved two vehicles. The police SUV of Fred Lee was parked across the roadway to block traffic on Sparta Street.

It’s a good thing that vehicle was in place because Martin reportedly smashed into the side of it without braking while several people were around the scene. Some officers were directing traffic around the initial wreck.

“There’s video of the crash and he never let up,” said Cannon. “He T-boned the police car probably going 40 mph and totaled it out.”

That crash happened around 9:15 p.m.

Martin is not in good health and walks with a cane. Cannon said that made administering a field sobriety test more difficult, but that Martin admitting to drinking.

“He admitted to being at Main Street Live and drinking vodka while he was there,” said Cannon. “He had just left and was on his way home. He had half a bottle of Country Club vodka in his truck and several of what I call airplane bottles of liquor.”

It is believed Martin avoided serious injury. He was driving a Nissan Titan. 

There were no serious injuries reported from the first wreck. Sergio Hernandez-Salazar was arrested for DUI.