By Jacob Tellers | Daily Journal
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A Franklin man was arrested early Monday morning after a car crash on U.S. 31 sent two people to the hospital.
James Roach, 25, 51 West St., was on U.S. 31 near Branigan Road when he collided into a sport-utility vehicle driven by Debbie Norman, 60, Franklin, just before 2 a.m., according to police reports.
The crash sent Norman’s vehicle into a ditch and flipped Roach’s car.
A witness told police Roach was going about 100 mph and had veered off the road before returning and crashing into Norman’s vehicle from behind.
The officer said Roach smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and trouble walking. Officers found marijuana paraphernalia in the vehicle, and Roach told police he had smoked marijuana that evening, according to the report. He was taken to Johnson Memorial Hospital for a blood test.
Roach was arrested on charges of operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury and possession of paraphernalia.
Norman and a backseat passenger, Jennifer Hinton, were taken to Franciscan Health Indianapolis, where they were treated and released, a hospital spokesman said. A front seat passenger, Robert Norman, was treated at the scene.
Roach and his passenger, Lindsey McKee, declined medical treatment.
McKee told police that she and Roach both had too much to drink after going to a bar to celebrate a birthday.
Roach was taken to the Johnson County jail and released on $2,200 bond.
