Tiffin man arrested after two consecutive hit skip accidents

FREMONT — A Tiffin man was taken into custody by deputies of the Sandusky County Sheriff's Office Thursday night after two hit skip accidents. Brian M. Halbisen, 35, of Tiffin, was driving a 2005 Dodge Dakota eastbound on CR 41 in Jackson Township, Sandusky County, just before 10 p.m. Thursday, according to a release from the Fremont post of State Highway Patrol. Anthony Gonyer, Jr., 20, of Helena, was stopped in the east lanes of CR 41 at the time in a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze, facing west, and was retrieving his mail, according to the release. Halbisen's vehicle struck Gonyer's vehicle head-on, and after the accident Halbisen fled the scene, first eastbound on CR 41 and then westbound after turning around at the intersection of CR 41 and SR 635, the release states. Halbisen's vehicle then struck an unoccupied 2015 Dodge Durango that had stopped at the first crash scene to render aid, it states. Witnesses at the scene attempted to stop Halbisen, at which point Halbisen produced a firearm and fled the scene on three wheels, according to the release. Volunteer firefighters responding to the scene followed Halbisen's vehicle to a residence on CR 41 and observed Halbisen as he fled inside the home, it states. Sandusky County Sheriff's Office deputies and Fremont post of State Highway Patrol troopers responded to the scene and the residence and were able to enter the home and take Halbisen into custody without incident, according to the release. Alcohol played a major factor in the accidents, the release states. Halbisen was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, menacing and leaving the scene of an injury crash, it states. Sandusky County EMS and Ash's Towing assisted at the scene, it states.