(COLDWATER) – A suspect has been arraigned for a traffic crash that happened over two years ago.

According to Branch County District Court personnel, 47 year old Raymond Root, formerly of Coldwater and currently living in Springfield, is charged with operating under the influence causing serious injury, moving violation causing serious impairment of a body function and reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function.

The crash happened April 27, 2021. Coldwater Police say Root was traveling south on Marshall Street near Taylor Street at a high rate of speed, and rear ended a vehicle, which then in turn struck a Coldwater Board of Public Utilities pole. Power was knocked off for approximately 50 BPU customers.

The woman who was driving the vehicle Root hit and received back and rib fractures, which required surgery. Police say they did a blood draw, and it showed that Root had drugs in his system, but no alcohol.

An arrest warrant was issued in June 2021. Root was arrested and taken to the Branch County Jail on August 31.

Root plead not guilty. He is being held on a $5,000. He is scheduled to have a probable cause hearing on September 12, and a preliminary examination on September 19.