James Lester Rachel, Jr. of Conroe was driving this Nissan Frontier east-bound on 190 in the west-bound lanes of traffic.
Wrong Way Traffic, Driver Charged with DWI, LIVINGSTON, May 26, 2013 - At around 2:30 am on May 26, 2013, Chief Deputy Byron Lyons with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, was patrolling on US-190 West. Lyons spotted a black Nissan Frontier driving east-bound in the west-bound lanes of 190. Lyons observed several cars take evasive action to avoid having a head-on accident with the east-bound vehicle. Lyons initiated a traffic stop near Jewel Coleman Road. The vehicle was driven by James Lester Rachel, Jr., 44, of Conroe. Sergeant Christian Schanmier (also with the Sheriff's Office) arrived to assist. Deputy Lyons summoned Trooper Kevin Burman with the Texas Highway Patrol. Burman arrived and conducted a field sobriety test on Rachel. Rachel struggled to perform the steps required for a field sobriety test. Further, Burman had Rachel blow into a portable breathalyzer testing device. Rachel blew .11. Burman placed James Rachel under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. During an inventory of the vehicle, Trooper Burman found a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol in Rachel's vehicle. Since Rachel was allegedly intoxicated, he was also charged with unauthorized carrying of a weapon. Rachel's vehicle was recovered by a rollback wrecker from LakeView Towing and will be stored in Livingston. The scene was cleared shortly after 3 am.
Trooper Kevin Burman demonstrates the steps of a field sobriety test for James Rachel.
Burman placed Rachel under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Rachel stated that he had been to his deer camp and drank some beer, then had some more beer at Buster McNutty's.
During a vehicle inventory, Trooper Burman found a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol. It's illegal to be driving intoxicated with a firearm in your vehicle. Rachel was also charged with unauthorized carrying of a firearm.
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