Photos submitted by Jesse W. Hall

A statue of a Confederate soldier in Rocky Mount lies in several pieces after a Rocky Mount man drove into it on Thursday evening. See a larger image.

 

Editor's note: This version of the story has corrected an errorneous report that the statue was of General Jubal Early.

ROCKY MOUNT -- A Rocky Mount man was charged with driving under the influence after he plowed through an iconic statue in the town, police said.

John Ozmore, 53, was traveling south on South Main Street when he crossed into the northbound lane, hit the sidewalk and then struck the statue of a Confederate soldier, said Sgt. Don Brown of the Rocky Mount police. The statue was broken into several pieces.

Ozmore's pickup truck then hit a pillar on the nearby courthouse, Brown said. Ozmore, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, Brown said.

Police are still investigating.

-- Amanda Codispoti