Driver hits city workers, arrested for negligent injuring

Two Ruston public works employees are recovering after being hit Thursday by an apparently drunk driver who’s now charged with negligent injuring.

The incident happened shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday on U.S. 167 near Louanne Avenue. Authorities said the two men were riding in a utility terrain vehicle from which they had been spraying along the roadside when they were hit by 58-year-old Daniel Robinson, of Russellville, Arkansas.

Robinson told city police he didn’t see the UTV.

One of the workers was treated and released at a local hospital for a minor injury, and the other was transferred to Shreveport with serious injuries, Mayor Ronny Walker said Friday.

Robinson reportedly admitted to police he had been drinking, and that he had been awake since Wednesday morning consuming vodka while traveling from South Louisiana back to Arkansas.

According to his arrest affidavit, his blood-alcohol content taken with a breath sample showed to be .094%. A bloodalcohol content above .08 is considered legally intoxicated in Louisiana.

Robinson is charged with careless operation, first-degree negligent injuring, and vehicular negligent injuring. He was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center with bond to be set on the three charges.