Blue lights flashed along U.S. 23 in Livingston County, Michigan, late at night on August 14. Deputies had pulled a car over and were speaking with the driver on the passenger side. Then, in an instant, headlights barreled past.

A passing vehicle clipped the parked patrol SUV and came within feet of hitting the police officers standing on the shoulder.

The sheriff’s office later explained that the driver who caused the near-miss was heavily intoxicated

Tests showed a blood alcohol concentration of .20. That’s two and a half times Michigan’s legal limit of .08.

The reading falls into the state’s “super drunk” category, which carries tougher penalties including higher fines, longer license suspensions, and mandatory alcohol treatment.

Officials reported that no one was hurt, though the crash left the department’s patrol vehicle damaged

The driver was arrested at the scene and faces driving while intoxicated charges. Deputies stressed that this case is part of a troubling pattern. They said impaired motorists don’t just put themselves in danger but also threaten first responders who spend hours each day on the roadside.

In Michigan, penalties escalate quickly with rising BAC levels

A first-time offender at .08 may face a suspended license and fines. At .17 or above, the “super drunk” threshold, the consequences grow sharper. Jail time becomes far more likely, and license suspensions stretch longer.

Authorities said this crash could have ended in tragedy. They tied the incident to their ongoing Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which warns residents to plan ahead, call a ride, and avoid turning the highway into a life-or-death gamble.