Man Sentenced For DUI Wreck That Left 300 Without Power

March 25, 2010

A Cantonment man has been found guilty on DUI charges, and he’ll have to pay thousands to Gulf Power following an October wreck that left about 300 homes and business in Cantonment in the dark.

http://www.northescambia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/mathisjoseph.jpgJoseph Paul Mathis, 28, was sentenced to 12 months probation, 50 hours of community service and his driver’s license will be suspended for a year.

He was also ordered to pay $10,774.53 to Gulf Power Company for damage to power company property in the 3:38 a.m. accident on October 21, 2009.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Mathis was westbound on McKenzie Road when he accelerated rapidly, lost control and fishtailed, leaving over 300 feet of acceleration and skid marks. He then hit about 90 feet of chain link fence at a home in the 2100 block of Eastman Lane while his 1997 Ford Crown Victoria was rotating clockwise. His car then struck and broke a utility pole, and continued another 45 feet across Eastman Lane were he hit the railroad crossing signal on the east side of the railroad tracks. After the Crown Vic came to a stop, it caught fire.

Mathis and his passenger, John W. Casey, 29, of Cantonment, exited the vehicle with only minor injuries, according to the FHP.

The power outage caused by the downed pole left 289 Gulf Power customers without power, some as long as eight hours.

In addition to the restitution to Gulf Power, the court may rule at a later date to order additional amounts be paid to CSX Railroad, Casey and private property owners that suffered damage in the wreck.

Comments

9 Responses to “Man Sentenced For DUI Wreck That Left 300 Without Power”

  1. friend on March 26th, 2010 6:46 am

    next time it could be somebody my wncle was killed by a drunk driver 2 year ago in santa rose the man got 6 mon in jail 10 years pro. and he is out living his life while my uncle is dead

  2. bill, big b little ill on March 25th, 2010 3:03 pm

    suspend license for a year, wonder how long before he’s right back behind the wheel.

    one week or two?

  3. Just an opinion on March 25th, 2010 2:48 pm

    We were without power for well over 8 hours and they had to get a new pole, transformer and rewire the lines because it “snapped” them and caused a recoil.
    I think this is a fitting punishment as long as he actually pays the damages and also pays for the gentleman’s fence he knocked down and pays CSX for the arm that was destroyed.

  4. not an english major on March 25th, 2010 2:21 pm

    At least they did suspend his license for a year. Hmmm, makes you wonder if he is driving while we are typing and reading this story. Probably. Most people that have a suspension drive anyway. They need to make his community service working in the funeral home or morgue. Wonder if that would help teach people about drinking and driving.

    I am thankful no one was killed due to his drunken stuper.

  5. idunno on March 25th, 2010 12:30 pm

    Yo….(ME)…..it was 1 pole dude…..8 hrs? Give us all a break.

  6. me on March 25th, 2010 11:41 am

    Depending on the circumstances it could take a while to get the power restored so we should not always blame the power company. We have to realize that those people are out there making the decisions to do what they need to do to get the power back on as quick and as safe as they can!!! It is not their intent to keep the power out to anyone!! Try getting your phone repaired it takes 3 days at least the power company comes out the same day to work on it!!! I’m just saying!!

  7. idunno on March 25th, 2010 5:55 am

    Gulf Power should be as ashamed as this dude. 8 hour outage…..give me a break.

  8. mary on March 25th, 2010 5:08 am

    must be his 1st DUI….

  9. blondie on March 25th, 2010 12:36 am

    sorry he should be serving time instead he gets a slap on the wrist now thats what you call blind justice

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News