Posey County Couple Arrested On Drunk Driving Charges In Monday Wrecks

Posey County – Last night at approximately 8:24 p.m., Indiana State Police and Posey County Sheriff’s Office responded to a three-vehicle crash on SR 165 approximately ½ mile north of I-64. When officers arrived, they discovered two of the drivers involved were husband and wife and alcohol was a contributing factor.

Preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police revealed Donald Ricketts, 56, of Poseyville, was driving his 2019 Nissan Frontier north on SR 165 when he drove left of center and struck the driver’s side of a tractor-trailer that was traveling south on SR 165.  After the collision occurred, which was a short distance from Ricketts' residence, Ricketts allegedly contacted his wife to pick him up at the crash site. Moments later, before police arrived, Cheral Ricketts, 55, was driving her 2014 Nissan south on SR 165 when she collided into her husband’s vehicle, which was still in the roadway from the previous crash. Both Ricketts’ vehicles were totaled.

When officers arrived on scene, Donald and Cheral Ricketts displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Cheral Ricketts was taken to Deaconess Gibson Hospital by Indiana State Police where a preliminary test revealed she had a BAC of .22%. She was later taken to the Posey County Jail where she is currently being held on bond.  Donald Ricketts was also taken to Deaconess Gibson Hospital where a preliminary test revealed he had a BAC of .28%.  He was admitted for a medical issue that is not life-threating.  The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.

This is an on-going investigation.