A crash eventually resulted in an arrest for Indiana State Police on Friday morning.
Just before 7:20 a.m., a trooper responded to a crash on I-74 eastbound near the 34 mile marker.
A preliminary investigation 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 the trooper 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 four 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, the trooper 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.
Preliminary charges include:
- Possession of a Syringe – Level 6 Felony
- Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangerment – Class A Misdemeanor
- Driving While Suspended Prior – Class A Misdemeanor
- Public Intoxication – Class B Misdemeanor
- Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash – Class B Misdemeanor
- Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Class C Misdemeanor
- Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
