Man arrested for aggravated DUI after crashing van

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: The Graham County Sheriff’s Office investigated a DUI-crash early Tuesday morning.

Reportedly went to purchase cigarettes while drunk then crashed coming home

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

GRAHAM COUNTY – A man is facing charges for aggravated DUI and driving on a suspended license after he crashed his van while allegedly inebriated as he returned home from a cigarette run early Tuesday morning. 

Law enforcement members were dispatched at about 12:44 a.m. to a motor vehicle crash on Bryce/Eden Road near Dragon Lane. A Pima Police officer responded to the scene, along with a deputy from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office. 

Upon arrival, the driver, Douglas Edward Libro, 57, had already been helped out of his wrecked van by two other motorists who stopped and called 911. The motorists broke out the windshield in order to safely remove Libro from the van that had rolled onto the driver’s side.

Libro was treated at the scene by paramedics with Pima Rescue and Lifeline Ambulance and was transported to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center for a minor head wound. 

Previously to being transported to the hospital, Libro allegedly told the investigating deputy that he drank a pint of bourbon earlier in the day and that his driver’s license was suspended due to a previous DUI. 

The deputy followed up at the hospital, and Libro again advised that he had been drinking throughout the day and that he left to go to the Speedway gas station in Pima to purchase cigarettes. On his way home, he lost control and wrecked his van, according to his statements to the deputy. 

A blood sample was taken at the hospital for testing purposes and Libro was advised that charges for aggravated DUI and driving on a suspended license are pending test results and review by prosecutors. The van was towed from the scene.