On Saturday, March 29, a Marshall man drove his Mercury Grand Marquis into the Ridge Park Cemetery wall causing damage to it and the cemetery's sign. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

Marshall police officers and Saline County Ambulance District No. 3, who were dispatched to the location early Saturday morning, found a 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis off the roadway and stopped against a rock wall. The vehicle, the wall and a cemetery sign had all sustained damage, estimated at $9,370.50 for the wall and the cemetery sign alone, according to the MPD report.

The driver of the car, Joseph W. Azbill of Marshall, was located at a nearby residence. Azbill sustained injuries to his right leg, the left side of this head and his left wrist. Ambulance personnel treated Azbill for his injuries at the scene, but according to the report, Azbill refused to be taken to a hospital for further treatment.

Azbill told officers he was going to a friend's residence to pick him up and as he was approaching the corner, he saw his friend standing alongside the road. He said he swerved to miss the person and lost control of the vehicle. He then hit the brakes, but they did not stop him before he struck the wall, the officer's report stated.

While Azbill was speaking to an officer, the officer could smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage on Azbill's breath and about his person. Azbill agreed to testing, which he failed. He was then placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated and for careless and imprudent driving, police said.

After arriving at MPD, Azbill was read his rights and agreed to chemical testing. Results of the test indicated Azbill's blood alcohol level was at 0.165, well over the legal limit. His driver's license was seized and he was issued a notice of suspension/revocation of driving privileges, the report stated.

Azbill was released later Saturday morning, after posting a $611 cash bond.

Contact Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net