Motorcyclist struck; drunken driver caught

[Hydrant]

Close to where I live. My brother is a PO and was helping to search for the guy. Shame



Motorcyclist struck; drunken driver caught

The driver of a motorcycle struck by a pickup truck the evening of Tuesday, May 11, at the intersection of Ohio 4 and Ohio 129 was taken by medical helicopter to University Hospital with several injuries. The driver of the pickup truck initially fled the scene, after dragging the bike more than 300 yards, but was later apprehended by Hamilton police.
Man arrested in Tuesday night hit-and-run had 0.171 alcohol level, suspended license, police say

By Dave Greber, Staff Writer Updated 8:45 AM Wednesday, May 12, 2010

HAMILTON — The man who struck a motorcyclist with his pickup truck and then fled the scene Tuesday night, May 11, was drunk and driving with a suspended license, according to Hamilton police.

The 33-year-old motorcyclist, whose name was not released pending notification of family, was seriously injured after he was thrown from the bike when it collided with the pickup at approximately 8:35 p.m. at Erie Boulevard (Ohio 4) and High Street (Ohio 129).

Police said a preliminary investigation indicated that the driver of the truck, identified as Jeffrey Carson, 43, of Hamilton “may have failed to yield to the motorcycle” as Carson was turning left onto Erie and the motorcyclist was heading east on High Street.

Police said Carson fled with the bike pinned under his truck’s front bumper. The motorcycle was dragged about 300 yards until it was dislodged near the entrance of The Grub Pub.

A gas trail from the site of impact curled south on Ohio 4 amid glass and plastic to where the motorcycle came to rest. A single black shoe was found by officers about 50 feet away from the intersection in the front parking lot of Jay’s Furniture Direct.

The motorcyclist, who appeared to be unresponsive at the scene, was transported by ambulance to the Butler County Regional Airport so he could be flown to University Hospital in Cincinnati.

Carson was initially charged with leaving the scene of an accident, driving under suspension and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. A charge of aggravated vehicular assault, a third-degree felony, was added overnight, according to Hamilton Municipal Court records. Police said his blood alcohol level registered at 0.171, more than two times Ohio’s legal driving limit of 0.08.

“I saw the guy fly in the air and sparks were just flying going right down Route 4,” said Chris Dunn, of Fairfield, who witnessed the accident.

Another motorist was waiting to turn left onto Ohio 129 from Ohio 4 when he saw the collision.

“I just watched it all unfold, and I said, ‘I can’t believe this is happening,’ ” said the man who declined to give his name. “I have a motorcycle also, and even though I’m cautious, it’s frightening.”

Police said driver of pickup who fled the scene was impaired and had a suspended license.