Staff Reports
A Hope man was injured when his motorcycle was struck by a car driven by a North Vernon man who told police he was under the influence of drugs.
At 9:45 a.m. Sunday, North Vernon Police Department officers were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident with injuries involving a passenger car and a motorcycle at South State and West College streets in North Vernon.
The driver of the motorcycle, Michael D. Harden, was ejected from the motorcycle when the driver of the passenger car, Aaron P. Malan, 44, turned in front of the motorcycle, the North Vernon Police Department said.
Officers arrived and began administering aid and conducting an accident investigation. Officer Seth Beville was speaking with Malan about the details of the accident when Malan attempted to consume unknown items. Officer Beville and other officers successfully removed the item, a white prescription bottle cap, which had a mixture of saliva and yellow residue, North Vernon police said.
Malan was detained and a criminal investigation was conducted, police said.
According to witness statements, Malan had consumed a handful of something unknown prior to officers arriving. Several yellow pills were also located scattered in the area near the vehicle and where Malan was detained. The pills were identified as Clonazepam, a Schedule 4 controlled substance, North Vernon police said.
Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located on Malan, and Malan admitted to using marijuana and narcotics prior to the accident, North Vernon police said.
Malan was transported to emergency room at St. Vincent Jennings Hospital, where he was seen by medical staff and a blood draw was completed, North Vernon police said.
Harden was flown to a medical facility to be treated for his injuries. Which hospital he was flown to and his condition were not immediately available.
Malan was transported to the Jennings County Jail and booked on preliminary charges of:
Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance
Resisting law enforcement
Obstruction of justice
Possession of marijuana
Possession of paraphernalia
Legend drug deception
Possession of a Schedule 4 controlled substance
