A Bowling Green area man was arrested Thursday (Dec. 12) after he allegedly caused a crash at Brim and Bishop roads, then fled from the scene.
The driver, Michael Hager, 51, has had five prior OVI arrests since 2000. Hager told police he does not have a driver’s license.
Bowling Green Police responded to the intersection at 6:48 a.m., to find one male on the ground covered with blankets, and three people standing over him. Two of the bystanders told police that the driver of one of the cars left on foot traveling southbound on Brim Road.
BG Fire Department arrived on the scene and assessed the 17-year-old male on the ground from the other vehicle. The teen was transported to the hospital by a family member who arrived on the scene.
Officers located Hager, who matched the bystander’s description of the fleeing driver, at one of the industries in that area. Hager was scheduled to start first shift there. Police had reportedly located his wallet in the crashed vehicle left at the scene.
Hager was brought back to the scene, where officers reportedly noted his speech was slurred, he smelled of alcohol, and he was unable to give his address. Due to the frigid weather, he was taken to the police station for the field sobriety tests, which he reportedly failed to perform properly.
Hager initially denied being involved in the crash. However, police found the key to the vehicle in his pocket. While being transported back to the crash scene, Hager reportedly told police he “freaked out.” He stated that he was driving southbound on Brim Road and stopped for the stop sign, then pulled out and was hit. Traffic on Bishop Road does not have a stop sign at that intersection.
After being medically cleared by Wood County Hospital, Hager was taken to Wood County Jail.
He was cited for a right-of-way violation, hit-skip, OVI, and test refusal with prior OVI in the last 20 years.
