Driver Found Slumped at Wheel: Estelline Man Charged with DUI Nearly Three Times Legal Limit

Hamlin County Sheriff's Office

Northeast Radio SD News – Hamlin County, SD - A 27-year-old Estelline man was arrested early Sunday morning following a traffic complaint that led to a driving under the influence (DUI) charge.

The Hamlin County Sheriff's Office was dispatched after a motorist called the Watertown Regional Dispatch Center at approximately 5:42 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, 2025. The caller reported a vehicle stopped on the side of US Highway 81 near 179th Street with its hazard lights flashing. The only person in the vehicle was reportedly slumped behind the wheel.

A sheriff's deputy arrived on the scene and made contact with the driver. The deputy's subsequent investigation led to the determination that the driver appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

A preliminary breath test (PBT) was administered at the scene, which indicated the driver's blood alcohol content was just under three times the legal limit for South Dakota.

The Estelline man was arrested and transported to the Codington County Detention Center. He faces state charges for DUI, Open Alcohol Container in Motor Vehicle, and Driving without a License. Additionally, the individual has federal charges pending against them.

The vehicle was recovered from the highway by BES Towing.