A drunken driver who caused a five-car accident in February near the Henderson Parking Garage pled guilty Monday morning to driving while intoxicated and criminal recklessness.
Christopher Eye, 56, turned himself into the Bloomington Police Department after he was released from the hospital following the crash.
The Feb. 28 accident blocked the intersection of Atwater Avenue and Henderson Street for at least three hours. At the time, Eye told police he did not remember getting into the car to drive or the accident itself.
Eye was sentenced to 536 days in jail. But, the time was suspended, meaning he will serve 536 days probation, and as long as he complies with his probation terms, he will not have to serve the jail time. Four other charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.
The charges dropped were battery by means of deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, carrying a handgun without a license and leaving the scene of an accident.
He also is required to complete 40 hours of community service but has already completed 19.
His license has been suspended since March 9, 2018 and will now be suspended for another 180 days. Eye said he has been using a moped scooter to get around because a license is not required to drive one.
As part of his plea deal, he will be granted specialized driving privileges to drive to and from work.
In court Monday, he told Judge Teresa Harper about what was going on in his life at the time of the accident. He had recently lost his job and felt depressed. He was also recovering from back surgery and was self-medicating with alcohol as he was being weaned off of the pain medications.
Shortly after the accident, Eye enrolled himself in alcoholism treatment at Centerstone, a local mental health care center. He has since completed treatment, but continues to attend weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
This accident forced him to recognize and accept his alcoholism and to seek help, Eye said.
“I see a brighter future,” he said.
