CLEVELAND — A drunk driver who hit an ODOT truck and pretended to be a panhandler after fleeing a crash scene on I-90 Thursday was charged with an OVI, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Andre Foster is charged with a felony OVI and was booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail as of Thursday, OSHP said. Foster is also charged with hit-skip, driving under suspension, seat belt violation and failure to maintain an assured clear distance ahead.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the ODOT crew was patching potholes along I-90 east near the East 152nd Street overpass when a suspected drunk driver hit the ODOT pickup truck.
Troopers and Cleveland police eventually located the man with the laundry soap container standing at the end of the exit ramp. He told officers that he was just panhandling at the end of the ramp and had nothing to do with the crash.
When asked if he wanted his phone from the car, he responded "yes" and was arrested.
Troopers said at least one ODOT worker was evaluated at the scene but refused any treatment.
