The Tribune Staff Reports
A Hope man was hospitalized Sunday morning after his motorcycle was struck by a car driven by a 44-year-old man who told police he was under the influence of drugs.
That man, Aaron P. Malan of North Vernon faces at least seven criminal charges in connection with the incident reported at 9:45 a.m. at State and College streets in North Vernon, according to a news release from North Vernon Police Department.
Malan, who was taken to the Jennings County Jail, faces preliminary charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, resisting law enforcement, obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, Legend drug deception and possession of a Schedule 4 controlled substance.
The driver of the motorcycle, Michael D. Harden, was ejected and treated at the scene by Jennings County Emergency Medical Services before being flown to a regional hospital to be treated for his injuries. That hospital and his condition were not immediately available.
According to police, Malan turned in front of the motorcycle Harden was driving.
Officers arrived and began administering aid and conducting an accident investigation. Officer Seth Beville was speaking with Malan about the details of the accident when Malan attempted to consume unknown items.
Beville and other officers successfully removed the item, a white prescription bottle cap, which had a mixture of saliva and yellow residue, police said.
According to witness statements, Malan had consumed a handful of unknown items prior to officers arriving. Several yellow pills also were located scattered in the area near the incident.
The pills were identified as Clonazepam, a Schedule 4 controlled substance, police said.
Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located on Malan, and Malan admitted to using marijuana and narcotics prior to the accident, police reported
Malan was transported to emergency room at St. Vincent Jennings Hospital, where he was seen by medical staff and a blood draw was completed, police said.