Local UPS driver celebrates 50 years, no accidents

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio (AP) -- UPS is celebrating a first, achieved by one of its Dayton area drivers: 50 years without an accident.   

Company and local officials watched Ron Sowder drive a UPS truck into West Carrollton Wednesday to become the company's first driver to hit the half-century safety mark. Atlanta-based UPS says more than 2,500 active drivers have gone at least 25 years without an accident.   

Sowder is a Navy veteran and Springboro native who estimates he's driven more than 4 million miles and transported more than 35 million packages for UPS. He currently drives five days a week between a distribution center in West Carrollton and the UPS air hub in Louisville, Ky.   

Sowder says staying accident-free is more challenging because of distracted drivers, including those who are texting.