Wrong-way driver loses father-of-the-year consideration

POLSON – Abdel Scott Russell might not win father of the year after driving while drunk the wrong way on Highway 93 with two unrestrained toddlers jumping around on the front seat. Thank goodness he nearly caused a head-on collision with a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy traveling the right way at about 10 p.m., Oct. 27.

Russell, who was traveling southbound in the northbound lane south of Polson, was at a place in the highway divided by a wall.

“(The deputy) took immediate action to steer his vehicle onto the shoulder to avoid a head-on collision with (Russell),” according to Lake County court documents.

The deputy attempted to stop Russell, who kept driving to the top of Polson Hill, slowed to about 10 miles per hour and stopped near Caffrey Road, court records said.

When the deputy arrived at the car, he saw, “a young (four-year-old) girl jumping up and down on the passenger seat,” records said. “The (deputy) noticed an alcoholic beverage in a cup holder and several cans on the floor.”

Russell tried to exit his car for a drunk driving test, but struggled to stand, records show.

The deputy later reported that during the DUI “processing” Russell struggled to perform routine testing and refused to continue halfway through but ultimately admitted to drinking 4 or 5 “big cans” of hard lemonade, records said.

Russell was arrested and charged with two counts of felony child endangerment.