Alleged drunken ATV driver pleads not guilty

Published 10:10 am Friday, January 6, 2012

A Lyle man pleaded not guilty Thursday to accusations that he drunkenly drove an ATV that rolled into a pond and injured two people in July.

Murphy

Trent Eric Murphy, 40, pleaded not guilty to six criminal charges, including four charges of criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of alcohol.

The charges stem from an incident on July 3, 2011, when an ATV carrying seven people rolled into a pond south of the intersection of 565th Avenue and 105th Street in Lyle Township.

Email newsletter signup

According to the court complaint, Murphy admitted to being the driver of the ATV when it rolled into the pond. He and four of the passengers sustained minor cuts and bruises, but one passenger was flown to the hospital by Mayo One after the vehicle’s roll cage landed on top of him. He sustained a liver laceration, fractured ribs and a pubic fracture.

Another passenger, a woman eight months pregnant, was treated at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin for cuts and other minor injuries. She did not suffer pregnancy complications, according to court documents.

Police smelled alcohol on Murphy’s breath and conducted several field sobriety tests, all of which he failed, according to court documents. Murphy’s blood sample indicated he had a blood alcohol content of .09 the night of the accident.

According to court documents, Murphy’s license was revoked in 2006 for driving over the legal limit.

Murphy is scheduled to begin his jury trial March 5.