E’town man charged after seven-car wreck

An Elizabethtown man faces 10 counts of first-degree wanton endangerment after a seven-car wreck Monday on North Dixie Avenue.

Police said James J. Duke, 36, was southbound in the left lane of North Dixie Avenue at Nalls Road near Target shortly after noon when his 2002 Ford Expedition crossed the median into northbound lanes and sideswiped six vehicles before stopping.

There were no visible injuries to the 10 passengers and drivers of the other vehicles.

Duke was arrested at the scene on charges of first-degree driving under the influence of inhalants, first-degree driving on a suspended license and having no insurance, in addition to the wanton endangerment charges, EPD Sgt. Tim Cleary said. Duke was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Traffic on North Dixie Avenue was backed up for about 35 minutes while police and emergency personnel cleared the area, Cleary said.