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
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