Alleged Drunk Driver Causes CS Accident

Photo of Steven Bethea courtesy of College Station PD.

You’ve probably seen the “Mayhem” commericals on TV for car insurance, but some drivers lived it Tuesday night on F.M. 2818, the Harvey Mitchell Parkway, between George Bush Drive and the Raymond Stotzer Parkway.

College Station Police say Steven Alan Bethea of Bryan was northbound just after 7 p.m. when he hit a northbound pickup from behind.

Police say Bethea, 61, then crossed into southbound traffic, back across 2818 into the ditch near the Bush Library, then back across the road into the ditch near Easterwood Airport becoming disabled.

Along the way, Bethea allegedly hit two other vehicles. He was arrested and charged with felony DWI because it was his third offense.

Bethea remained in Brazos County Jail Wednesday morning pending a bond hearing.

The full text of the media release from the College Station Police Department is below:

On 01/31/12, at 1908 hours, officers responded to a report of a collision on FM 2818 (Harvey Mitchell Parkway) between FM 60 (Raymond Stotzer Parkway) and George Bush Drive (FM 2347).  Once on scene, officers observed a four door Kia Forte passenger car in a ditch approximately 40 yards west of the roadway.  The Kia had driven down the embankment and struck the opposite side head on causing it to become damaged and disabled.  Passing motorists had stopped to assist the driver of the Kia out of the vehicle since it had smoke emanating from the passenger compartment and they were afraid it would catch on fire (later it was discovered to be smoke from the air bags and radiator).  There were also three vehicles stopped along the roadway on FM 2818 that had been involved in collisions with the black Kia.  Due to the chaotic state of the disabled cars, stopped motorists helping the other drivers, and congested oncoming traffic, the roadway was closed to southbound traffic at FM 60 (Raymond Stotzer).

Upon investigation, it was found that the Kia Forte was driving northbound on FM 2818 from George Bush Drive when it struck a 2011 Dodge truck that was northbound in front of it from behind.  The Kia Forte then drove into oncoming traffic in the southbound lanes making southbound traffic stop.  The Kia Forte then drove eastbound, across the northbound lanes of traffic, and into the grass landscape hills between FM 2818 and the George Bush Library.  The Kia turned around, traveled westbound back across FM 2818, where it struck a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser that was stopped on the southbound shoulder.  Once the Kia struck the Toyota FJ Cruiser, it traveled southwest to strike a 2004 Ford Expedition that was stopped in front of the FJ Cruiser.  After striking the Expedition, the Kia Forte accelerated quickly causing the tires to spin.  The Kia Forte then traveled southwest into the grass landscaping toward Easterwood Airport until it traveled into the ditch and struck the embankment, on the opposite side, head on causing the car to be disabled.

After a thorough investigation, the driver of the Kia Forte was found to be driving while intoxicated.  He was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated with two prior convictions, making the current charge a third degree felony.

The driver of the Kia Forte was identified to be Steven Alan Bethea, white male, a resident of Bryan, Texas.

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