On 1-21-13 an accident occurred at the intersection of Spotted road and Garden Spot road. A vehicle ignored the stop sign and took the corner at a high rate of speed. The vehicle left the roadway, went through a fence and hit a tree. Two people came by and saw the wrecked car tried to help the lone occupant of the vehicle. Both of them were doctors. One called 911, while the other attempted to help the lone occupant of the vehicle. Due to the accident the doors to the vehicle would not open but one of the doctors was able to detect the odor of alcohol from the vehicle.

Before the ambulance arrived, another person, later identified as the defendant’s son, arrived on scene and broke a window to the vehicle and was able to remove the driver. The doctor noticed the driver’s poor coordination and slurred speech. The doctors informed them that an ambulance was on its way. But rather than waiting, the defendant’s son told the doctors he was taking the driver to the emergency room. At no point did the driver or his son provide names any information to anyone on scene.

The driver left the scene with his son. He did not go to the hospital. Law enforcement was able to track down the son that night due to the doctors providing 911 his license plates. Law enforcement was told that while on route to the hospital, the father demanded to be taken home, and the son took his father home. The son also told law enforcement that his father was drinking, but he didn’t know how much. Law enforcement went to the driver’s home, but no one appeared to be there. Later it was learned he was taken to another person’s home.

On 4-16-13, Mr. Steven Edward Swiger went to trial for Physical Control of a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, Reckless driving, and Hit and Run with property damage. At trial, Mr. Swiger argued that he was not the driver of the vehicle, and he had not been drinking. After a 2 day trial the jury found the defendant guilty on all counts.

Mr. Swiger was sentenced on May 8th 2013. At sentencing, the state informed the court the defendant had 9 prior DUI convictions, and a felony hit and run conviction and other convictions. The court gave the defendant the maximum sentence of 2 years and 90 days in jail and an $11,000 fine plus costs and assessments and restitution.

Deputy Prosecutor Nick Force represented the state with Saundra Richartz assisting.