Austin man charged in fatal January hit-and-run arrested on new DWI charges

(ABC 6 News) – An Austin man accused in January of killing a 41-year-old woman in a drunk driving crash was arrested Sunday and accused of driving while intoxicated again.

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Darin Douglas Finley, 36, faces new charges of DWI–refuses to submit to chemical test and driving after license revocation after being arrested Feb. 19.

Finley’s license was revoked in January, when he was accused of hitting and killing Melissa Rack of Austin.

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His criminal vehicular homicide and DWI trial is scheduled for June of this year.

According to the Mower County Jail roster, Finley was released on $0 bail with alcohol monitoring conditions at about 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21.

According to court documents, Finley was re-arrested after an individual called Mower County dispatch to report that Finley, named by the caller, had just left the area of 13th Ave. NE, Austin in a green sedan and may be driving drunk.

The caller told law enforcement that he had noticed Finley acting erratic and thought he smelled alcohol, and told Finley he would not allow him to drive– after which Finley “peeled out of the driveway” at about 10:15 p.m., according to court documents.

A Mower County sheriff’s deputy followed Finley’s vehicle to Mapleview and made contact with him near his residence.

The deputy alleged that Finley had a difficult time providing his name and following instructions, seemed sluggish, and smelled strongly of alcohol, according to court documents.

The deputy placed Finley under arrest and took him to the Law Enforcement Center, where he allegedly refused to comply with drug testing after a warrant was obtained.

Finley’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 2, 2023.