Commiskey man accused of endangering infant while driving drunk

A Commiskey man is being accused of neglect of a dependent and drunk driving after a crash last week in Jennings County.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, rescue workers were called to the scene of a crash early Thursday morning on County Road 800S near Graham Creek Elementary School. A witness said a man and small child were in the vehicle when it crashed into a tree. When deputies arrived they found 31-year-old Joseph McGrath standing outside of the wrecked vehicle and the infant being taken care of inside a second vehicle that stopped at the scene. The child did not appear to have any visible injuries.

The front of the vehicle was heavily damaged and airbags had activated. As deputies spoke to McGrath, they say that they detected the smell of alcohol on his breath. He refused to cooperate with investigators at the scene and was taken to St. Vincent Hospital where his blood was drawn after police received a warrant through Jennings Circuit Court.

He was arrested and taken to jail on preliminary felony charges of Operating while Intoxicated w/Endangerment and neglect of a Dependent.

Jackson County medics, Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Department and Lucas Wrecker Service assisted at the scene.