Fayette employee charged with driving drunk in county vehicle

By Kim Rodgers - krodgers@herald-leader.com

A Lexington-Fayette Urban County traffic engineering worker was charged with drunken driving after he was called to fix a broken traffic light early Wednesday. He later resigned.

Ralph Landrum, 57, was taken to the Fayette County jail, where he was held on a $2,500 bond.

About 3:50 a.m., Landrum was working on a traffic light at Man o' War Boulevard and Terminal Drive when a Blue Grass Airport police officer arrived to assist him.

The officer's suspicions were aroused by Landrum's "wildly impaired balance" and the smell of alcohol on Landrum's breath, according to the police report. When Landrum moved the county vehicle in which he had arrived, the officer administered a standard alcohol test. Landrum's blood-alcohol content was 0.118, according to the police report. Landrum has declined requests for an interview.

Susan Straub, urban county communications director, said Landrum submitted his resignation Wednesday. She said he has been a county employee since 1998 and was a "traffic signal technician senior."

The Herald-Leader allows readers to comment on stories. The views expressed here are not those of the Herald-Leader or its staff. Readers must avoid personal attacks and libelous or inappropriate remarks. See our commenting policy here. Some comments may be reprinted in the newspaper. Registered user names are posted with comments.