January 20, 2014
01/21/14 On Saturday night January 18th at approximately 10:05 the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a head on collision involving a County Highway snow plow truck on Michigan Road near its intersection with 18 C Road south of Argos.
As Marshall County Sheriff Deputy Travis O’Neal arrived on scene it was determined that the driver of the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 22 year old Juan L. Ruiz of Rochester was traveling south on Michigan Road about 1 mile north of 18 C Road. The Trailblazer crossed the center line and entered into the path of the 2003 Marshall County Plow Truck driven by 51 year old Jon A. Bates of Bourbon who was traveling northbound. The Trailblazer collided head on with the truck and went into a counter clockwise spin continuing southbound for a short distance before coming to rest facing east just off the west side of the roadway.
After the impact the Marshall County snow plow left the roadway on the east side and came to rest facing north east. Mr. Bates was able to backed the plow onto the roadway and parked it facing northbound.
Both the driver Juan Ruiz and his passenger, 50 year old Jesus Gallardo of Plymouth was entrapped in the Trailblazer and had to be extracted by the Argos Fire Department. They were transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth with complaints of leg and hip pain. Mr. Ruiz was given a portable breath test at the hospital where he tested .183 % BAC and refused to submit to a certified test.
Mr. Bates was treated for pain in his left shoulder and was given a portable breath test at the hospital with the test results of .000%. He also submitted to a certified test where he tested negative for drugs.
Mr. Ruiz was later arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail for Operating While Intoxicated, Public Intoxication and Operation of a Motor Vehicle having Never Obtained a License. He is being held on a $1,505 cash bond.
Assisting the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department were Argos Fire and EMS, Argos Police Department, Fulton County EMS and Plymouth EMS. Lyon’s Towing assisted in the removal of the Trailblazer due to the extensive damage caused by the crash.
Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is a mere allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated