Richard Roeder Jr, 58 of Lima, was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs following a hit-skip crash Friday afternoon.
Officers of the Washington Township Police Department were dispatched about 4:40 p.m. to assist the Logan County Sheriff’s Office with locating a vehicle that reportedly had been involved in an accident on U.S. Route 33 at Township Road 239 in Lakeview and then fled the scene.
Deputies reported Roeder was operating an eastbound car and struck the rear of an eastbound pickup operated by Justin M. Wellman, 40, of Celina, that was waiting at the traffic light. Roeder then reportedly left the scene. Wellman did not report any injuries and damage was moderate to his vehicle.
Washington Township officers located Roeder’s vehicle on State Route 708 near Mansfield Avenue heading toward Orchard Island. Contact was made with the defendant, who stated he was heading to Lima from Bluffton.
While speaking with him, signs of impairment were observed. Roeder submitted to field sobriety tests and was subsequently placed under arrest for OVI.
Parts of the vehicle left at the accident scene matched Roeder’s vehicle, officers said.
He was taken into custody and submitted to a breath test. His blood alcohol content level was 0.139. He was released to a sober driver and also was cited for failure to maintain assured clear distance ahead and leaving the scene of an accident.
Unlicensed driver cited
Megan Ascraft, 27, of Lakeview, was cited for operating a vehicle without a driver’s license as a result of a traffic stop Friday afternoon.
Officers on patrol in the Indian Lake Schools zone on State Route 235 near State Route 274 about 4:10 p.m. observed her vehicle make a lane violation and initiated the stop.
While speaking with the Ascraft, she advised officers she was not a valid driver. Officers learned that her passenger, Logan Herford, 29, of Lakeview, was wanted out of a Union County for a warrant. Officers located two marijuana bowls inside the vehicle.
The vehicle was towed from the scene. No other charges were filed.