BROWNSBURG — Hendricks County sheriff’s deputies arrested Kerry Payne, 54, of Clermont Heights, in connection with the Sept. 13 hit and run that left a 69-year-old man in critical condition.
Howard N. Burtner of Brownsburg was driving a lawn mower around 6 p.m. Sunday on the roadway near 10730 East County Road 450 North, just east of Brownsburg, when he was struck by a pick-up truck that left the scene without stopping.
Burtner was transported to Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis, where he remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit, according to Wishard Hospital spokesperson Todd Harper.
Lt. Jim Yetter said Payne was arrested Sept. 15 and charged with leaving the scene of a crash causing serious injury, which is a felony.
“Somebody had notified the investigating officer of a vehicle spotted in Clermont Heights,” Yetter said. “It was actually a red pick-up truck, that had damage consistent with the mower. The investigators brought the pieces (from the vehicle) up from the accident scene, and they matched perfectly with the pick-up truck.”
Yetter said Payne told investigators he had been drinking and didn’t realize he had hit anything or anyone on his way home.
“He lives less than a mile from the scene of the crash,” Yetter said. “He told the investigators that he had been at a bar drinking that afternoon while watching the Colts game. He remembered going over some railroad tracks, and he said he remembered hitting the railroad tracks hard. He said he was too intoxicated to remember the ride home. He couldn’t say he didn’t hit (Burtner), and couldn’t say he did.”
Though he admitted to driving while intoxicated, Yetter said authorities cannot charge him with that.
“Based on that he admitted to driving the vehicle at the time (of the crash), and obviously with the pieces of evidence, he was arrested at that time,” Yetter said. “Because of the time frame, we cannot charge him with anything regarding the drunk driving incident.”
Payne was arrested and booked into the Hendricks County Jail in Danville. He was released on a $5,000 bond.
charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com
Local News
Driver of hit and run arrested
- Local News
-
-
Brownsburg holds inaugural town hall meeting
An estimated crowd of about 30 people attended the first of Brownsburg’s town hall meetings on Tuesday. The meetings were created to give an open forum to citizens who may not be able to attend evening council meetings. Council members Dwayne Sawyer and Rob Kendall said that goal was met.
-
Facebook page nets BPD a catch
Early returns on the Brownsburg Crime Tips Facebook page are positive as one of the suspects featured has already been identified.
-
Police investigate night time murder
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a person shot at the 3100 block of N. Guilford Ave. just before 10 p.m. Wednesday.
-
Women of Influence conference to target cancer
One of life’s most ruthless opponents will be the focus of the third annual Women of Influence conference set for 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 1 at Five Star Catering at Primo West in Plainfield.
-
SWAT team ends potential hostage situation
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department SWAT team took Zachary Pipes, 18, Indianapolis, into custody Wednesday morning, putting a non-violent cap on a contentious situation.
-
Pence makes first official campaign stop in Plainfield
Mike Pence filed paperwork on Monday to officially run for governor of Indiana. Then the Republican made his first campaign stop here, at The Coachman restaurant.
-
Steuerwald leads effort to bolster human trafficking laws
Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon) co-sponsored a bill strengthening Indiana's anti-human trafficking laws that Gov. Mitch Daniels signed just in time for the Super Bowl.
-
First Lady kicks off state employee food drive
First Lady Cheri Daniels recently announced the start of the annual Hoosiers Helping Hoosiers state employee food drive. During the month of February, 60 agencies and 261 divisions throughout Indiana state government will coordinate efforts to collect non-perishable items for local food banks and pantries.
-
Shoe recycling event going on this week
The Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District says old shoes that are discarded can spend more than 200 years in a landfill before decomposing, and shoes are in great demand in third world countries.
-
Hanging with Madonna
With hundreds of millions of people throughout the world watching Super Bowl XLVI, Avon made a nice splash.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Brownsburg holds inaugural town hall meeting





