An Indianapolis man was arrested on multiple charges Thursday following a hit and run crash on Interstate 74.
According to a press release issued by the Indiana State Police, Trooper Davis responded just before 7:20 a.m. to a crash in the eastbound lane of the interstate near the 34 mile-marker.
A preliminary investigation by Davis revealed that a 2013 Hyundai Elantra driven by John Kearns, 66, of Indianapolis was traveling eastbound on I-74. For an unknown reason, Kearns ran off the right side of the road and struck the guardrail. Kearns began walking from his vehicle eastbound on I-74, and Davis located him about half a mile from the Hyundai.
Further investigation revealed that earlier that morning, Kearns was also involved in a crash on I-74 near the 4 mile-marker. Kearns struck a semi-truck, ran off the road and fled eastbound. Troopers from the Putnamville Post investigated this crash, and there were no injuries.
While speaking to Kearns, Davis observed signs of impairment and located syringes on Kearns. A drug recognition expert with the Crawfordsville Police Department administered tests for Kearns, which he failed. Kearns then submitted to a blood test, and those results are pending. Kearns was uninjured in either crash and transported to Montgomery County Jail.
He is facing charges of possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony; operating a vehicle while intoxicated - endangerment and driving while suspended - prior, both a class A misdemeanor; public intoxication and leaving the scene of a property damage crash, both a class B misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of paraphernalia, both a class C misdemeanor.
