Arkansas man sentenced for July DUI that sparked fire

An Arkansas man was sentenced to 10 days in jail with credit for one day served following a July incident where the vehicle he was driving caught on fire in Judge Deborah Kim Christopher’s court last Thursday.

John Bourdon, 49, of Bentonville, Ark., began the sentence stemming from an amended charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor first offense last week, after it was reported on July 2 that a vehicle was on fire on White Swan Road in Polson, according to court documents.

During court, it was elaborated that Bourdon was in town for a wedding.

Bourdon had driven off the road through woods in an attempt to get back on the road “but eventually high centered the vehicle,” causing it to catch fire, the narrative states.

Bourdon’s three-year-old granddaughter was in the vehicle.

A witness put out the fire, noting it took him five minutes to get to the vehicle, at which time Bourdon was “just then getting” to the girl.

Court documents state that Bourdon admitted to having four drinks that day and “had blood shot and watery eyes.”

After Bourdon refused a breath test, a search warrant was granted and a blood sample was collected and sent to the Montana State Crime Laboratory in Missoula.

Offering to either serve his sentence immediately or at a later time, Christopher said it was best for Bourdon to report to the Lake County Jail to get the sentence completed.