Paintsville, Ky: A Johnson County man is facing criminal charges after a DUI related car crash.  Paintsville Police, Fire Department and EMS all responded to a two-vehicle crash on Euclid Avenue in Paintsville late Wednesday night. Two people were transported to Paul B. Hall Medical center to be treated for their injuries. The driver of one of those vehicles, 45-year old Troy Conley of Staffordsville, was found to be under the influence. He was arrested and charged with DUI, wanton endangerment and 1st degree assault. Officer Zachary Mitchell, who was at the scene of the accident, says based on the law and the way 1st degree assault is defined, he and the department will continue to charge all suspects who are involved in DUI related crashes with that charge.

“Its something we plan to continue to do, our DUI enforcement has always been one of the high priorities. Impaired drivers do tend to create a lot of roadway hazards and to create a large danger to the public itself,and part of our mission to protect the public is to enforce the statutes and enforce the laws. Should they cause a collision while in that state of mind resulting in an injury to another person it would qualify as assault, based on my understanding. If we were to continue to do that it would be an extreme deterrent to DUI drivers.”

1st degree assault is a class B felony that is punishable by 10-20 years in prison.

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