STOW, Ohio — A Massillon man will spend more than two years in prison for driving drunk and striking a Stow Police officer with a vehicle back in May.
Stephen Eibel, 57, was sentenced in Summit County Court of Common Pleas Tuesday to 30 months in prison, the maximum sentence, according to the prosecutor’s office. His driver's license was also suspended for seven years.
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Eibel was found guilty in August of aggravated vehicular assault and operating a vehicle under the influence.
The May 6 incident marked the sixth time Eibel was caught drunk driving, prosecutors said. The crash happened around 10:30 p.m. in a construction zone on State Route 8. The officer was sitting in his cruiser with flashing lights on when Eibel smashed into the officer’s vehicle, prosecutors said. The officer sustained injuries to his back, neck and head.
You can watch dash camera footage of the crash in the player below:
“This is the sixth time Mr. Eibel has been caught driving drunk. He’s lucky that no one was seriously injured or killed,” said Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh. “Mr. Eibel’s actions put us all at risk. This is why I fight for stronger sentences for repeat drunk drivers.”
RELATED: Stow officer in fair condition after being struck by vehicle in construction zone on State Route 8
