BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested after he crashed into a vehicle Sunday and then fled the scene.
Police detained 70-year-old Carroll Michael Elkins, on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, and leaving the scene of a property damage crash.
Bedford Police officers responded to 1606 4th Street at Mama Neals after a report of a property damage accident and a driver of a 1994 white Chevrolet Silverado fled the scene. The vehicle was last seen traveling east on 4th Street and a witness was able to get the license plate number.
The officer found Elkin’s vehicle on the side of the road on Breezy Hill Road with the driver’s side door open. The vehicle had damage to the rear and paint transfer from the vehicle he had hit.
They found Elkins on his front porch.
He told police he had left Mama Neal’s, then said he had just left the Owl’s Nest Kindred Spirits located at 7th Street and Lincoln Avenue. He then told police he was at Dairy Land at 4th and Lincoln Avenue to get cigarettes, but didn’t remember hitting a vehicle.
Police say Elkins smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech and glassy eyes.
Elkins at first claimed he had not been drinking, then said he had four to five beers, and finally amended that it may have been seven or eight.
Elkins stated that he would not be able to pass a preliminary breath test nor would he complete any field sobriety tests.
Elkins was detained, and after securing a search warrant he was transported to IU Health Hospital for a blood draw.
