A local tow truck driver accused of rear-ending a vehicle on Jonathan Moore Pike causing a death has been charged with felony reckless homicide after a blood test showed he was under the influence of methamphetamine when the collision happened.
Ruel P. Pedigo III, 49, of 1085 Jonesville Road, was arrested Thursday on a Bartholomew Circuit Court warrant for Level 5 felony reckless homicide, Level 4 felony causing a death while operating a motor vehicle with a controlled substance in the blood, and a Level 6 felony, causing serious bodily injury when operating a motor vehicle with a controlled substance in the blood.
He posted $40,000 bond and was released from the Bartholomew County Jail on Thursday, jail officials said.
The charges stem from a multi-vehicle accident at 7:40 p.m. Jan. 27 on Jonathan Moore Pike near Johnson Boulevard, court documents state. The accident occurred in the eastbound lanes and involved as many as six vehicles.
Investigators said a Ford F650 tow truck with a vehicle on the flat-bed driven by Pedigo rear-ended a Mazda 3 passenger car, resulting in the death of the Mazda driver, Patrick N. Bowman, 35, Brown County.
The crash also caused serious injuries to Bowman’s passenger Sarah Fliehman, 25, Brown County, who was later transferred to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital for treatment of a head injury. She was later upgraded to good condition after the accident.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
