Man charged with 4th DWI after striking fence, utility pole

A 33-year-old New Iberia man has been arrested for his fourth DWI after crashing through a fence and hitting a utility pole Thursday on La. 70 in Morgan City, according to Morgan City police.
Morgan City police received a call at 11:09 a.m. Thursday of a single-vehicle wreck on La. 70 near Fig Street.
Officers arrived and learned that a 2004 Ford pickup, driven by Regis Southern, 33, of Huey P. Road in New Iberia, was traveling south of La. 70 when, for unknown reasons, the truck left the roadway, went about 300 feet off the road and struck a fence, a utility pole along with water line and electrical lines by Lake End Parkway, police said.
Southern's behavior made officers suspicious that he may be under the influence of alcohol and or narcotics, police said. Acadian Ambulance responded to treat Southern for minor injuries. During treatment, an officer located suspected Xanax in one of Southern's hands. Police searched the vehicle and located suspected drug paraphernalia.
Police charged Southern with DWI fourth offense, careless operation of a motor vehicle, possession of Xanax and drug paraphernalia.
Southern was transported to a medical facility where medical staff obtained a blood sample from him. The blood sample was turned over to officers to be sent to a criminal laboratory for analysis. Southern was released from the medical facility, arrested and transported to the Morgan City jail.