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BURHAN |
Akhir J.R. Burhan, 43, of 309 E. Columbus Ave., Apt. 1, Bellefontaine, was charged with aggravated vehicular assault and a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident related to an incident Saturday afternoon on south U.S. Route 68 near Hickory Drive.
Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched about 2:25 p.m. to the area on a report of a hit-skip crash. Burhan reportedly had struck the rear of a vehicle operated by Donna M. Heminger, 75, of West Liberty, and two utility poles and had left the scene.
Heminger was transported by Macochee EMS to Mary Rutan Hospital for treatment of injuries, deputies report.
A West Liberty Fire Department employee reportedly was following the suspect vehicle and provided location information to sheriff’s office dispatchers. The suspect vehicle reportedly had sustained heavy front end damage and was smoking.
The vehicle traveled onto Township Road 190 to County Road 1, and then turned east onto County Road 5, and then south onto County Road 29. Deputies were able to stop the suspect in the area of county roads 29 and 47.
While speaking with the driver, identified as Burhan, deputies observed that he displayed signs of impairment. He was asked why he didn’t stop after the crash and he replied that he “didn’t want to get into trouble.”
He was placed under arrest and transported to the Logan County Jail. While en route to the jail, deputies said his behavior would vary from being quiet to “screaming at the top of his lungs.” He submitted to a urine test at the jail.
Charges also are pending for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving under ALS refusal suspension and driving under in-state drug offense suspension, along with a citation for failing to maintain assured clear distance ahead.