Local driver arrested after accident

A local man was arrested on multiple charges after he was accused of crashing his vehicle into another one and fleeing the accident scene.

An off-duty Indiana State Police trooper saw the vehicles collide at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday near 16th Street and Lafayette Avenue, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.

The trooper told Columbus officers a Chrysler 200 had fled the scene with the rear passenger tire torn off the vehicle, Harris said. A passenger in the vehicle who remained at the scene had minor injuries.

Officers located the suspect’s vehicle and driver a short time later at the Noblitt Park entrance. The driver was identified as Kyle Fillmore, 54, of 5023 Vance St., Harris said. When officers were speaking to him, an item dropped to the ground that contained methamphetamine and marijuana, Harris said. Officers also noted that Fillmore’s speech was slurred and he had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath.

Fillmore was arrested and taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw, Harris said. He initially refused to consent to the blood test, but officers were granted a search warrant for the draw, which was done.

Fillmore was arrested on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangerment, leaving the scene of a bodily injury crash, possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana, jail officials said.

Fillmore was released from the Bartholomew County Jail through the probation department’s pre-trial diversion program which allows defendants to be released from jail without having to post bond, jail officials said.