PERKINS TOWNSHIP, OH (WOIO) -
The Highway Patrol is investigating after a hayride flipped on Patten-Tract Road in Perkins Township around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night.
Troopers say they have 28 confirmed injuries.
According to their press release, Michael Hermes, 47 of Sandusky was driving a farm tractor pulling 2 caged hay trailers, each carrying 30-40 passengers when he went off the right side of the road.
The rear hay trailer flipped, ejecting the passengers.
They were transported by ambulance to Firelands Hospital in Sandusky, Bellevue Hospital in Bellevue, and to Fisher Titus Hospital in Norwalk.
Two of the injured passengers, Ruben Cruz Jr and Raynoldo Cruz both from Castalia were Life Flighted from Bellevue Hospital to Mercy St. Vincent's Hospital in Toledo.
Hermes was not injured in the crash.
On scene, he refused to take field sobriety tests. He was taken to the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Sandusky Post where he also refused to take an alcohol breath test.
A warrant was issued to draw blood from Hermes for alcohol test results. The blood was sent to the Ohio State Highway Patrol's crime lab for analysis.
Hermes was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Aggravated Vehicular Assault, Open Container, and Failure to Control. Hermes is locked up in the Erie County Jail and is due in court on Tuesday.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by Perkins Police Dept., Perkins Fire & EMS, Sandusky Fire & EMS, Huron Fire & EMS, Margaretta Fire & EMS, and North Central EMS.
The crash is currently still under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
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