24 Year Old Charged with Multiple Felonies including Drunk Driving Causing Serious Injury.
On April 16th, sixth-grade social studies teacher at Mason County Central Middle was struck in a hit-and-run accident. The crash occurred at about 4 pm in the Shop & Save parking lot in Pere Marquette Township. The driver, later discovered to be 24 year old Brian Keith Blackburn, fled the scene in the gold-colored Buick four-door he was driving. Witnesses provided authorities with a description of the vehicle and Ludington Police were able to locate the car shortly after the accident. Blackburn was arrested on charges of suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) and possession of marijuana. The Ludington Drunk Driving case may land the defendant in prison.
Scott Dumas, the 50 year old schoolteacher hit by Blackburn, sustained serious head injuries and was flown by Aero Med helicopter to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, MI. As of today he was upgraded from ‘critical condition’ to ‘fair condition’. Blackburn was arraigned in Mason County on multiple felony charges, including:
- Operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
- Failure to stop at scene of accident resulting in serious impairment, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.
- Two counts of Resisting/obstructing a police officer, punishable by up to two years in prison and potential fines of up to $2,000..
In addition, he was also charged with two misdemeanors, including:
- Controlled substance – possession of marijuana, which carries a sentence of up to one year jail time and fines of up to $2,000.
- Operating while intoxicated, in this case a second offense, which also carries a sentence of up to one year in jail and fines of up to &2,000.
Blackburn is being held in the Mason County Jail. His bail has been set at $50,000. The pre-exam conference is scheduled for April 25th in the 79th District Court ,with a preliminary exam scheduled to follow on April 30th.
