OKC Father Arrested, Accused Of DUI, Endangering 7-Year-Old Daughter

An Oklahoma City man was arrested on Monday for driving drunk and putting his young daughter in danger, according to police.

The SUV Kochese Smith, 39, was driving flipped and landed next to a power pole on North Kelley Avenue near Britton Road. Smith and his daughter survived the crash with only minor injuries.

“This could have easily been a more tragic situation than what it turned out to be,” said MSgt. Gary Knight, Oklahoma City Police Department.

Fire crews were first on the scene of the crash late Sunday night. They pulled Smith and his 7-year-old daughter out of the car before police arrived.

A resident in the area witnessed the crash aftermath and called 911.

Caller: “Just one off the road in a ditch, looks like it’s in some trees,”

911 Dispatcher: “Anybody injured?”

Caller: “Yep sounds like it, someone across the street.”

While paramedics treated the child in an EMSA truck, fire crews and police spoke to the girl's confused and allegedly intoxicated father.

“He appeared to be heavily under the influence of alcohol,” said Knight. “He was so much so under the influence that he didn’t even realize he had been in a crash even though the vehicle was on its side.”  

The report states Smith agreed to a field sobriety test but had a hard time staying on his feet.

“He was administered a field sobriety test at the scene,” said Knight. “All of which he failed or was just simply unable to take part in because of his level of intoxication.”

Glass and debris remained in the area where the SUV went off the road hours after the crash. A crash police said could have been much worse.

“Anytime you have a drunk driver,” said Knight. “Especially at that level of intoxication operating a motor vehicle something terribly bad can happen.”

Smith was taken to the hospital for evaluation before he was booked into jail on complaints of driving under the influence and child endangerment.