Two Claypool Men Arrested After Vehicle Leaves Crash Scene – InkFreeNews.com

Staff Report

James Robert Roder

Taylor Ray Collins

CLAYPOOL — Two Claypool men were recently arrested after leaving a vehicle crash without waiting for law enforcement.

James Robert Roder, 39, 3616 W. 700S, Claypool, charged with possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe; both level 6 felonies; possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor; and possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony.

Taylend Ray Collins, 18, 3019 W. Hill Lake Road, Claypool, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident with moderate or serious bodily injury, a level 6 felony; and knowingly or intentionally driving without a license, a class C misdemeanor.

On Thursday, November 21, an Indiana State Police officer responded to a vehicle crash at South County Farm Road and East CR 800S east of Claypool. Police received information about the injured and that one of the drivers involved in the accident had left the scene.

A Chevrolet Colorado crashed head-on into a tree after hitting a Jeep Cherokee, according to court documents. The Jeep was still at the scene.

The driver of the Colorado said he was traveling south on County Farm Road when the Jeep entered the intersection from the east and struck his vehicle. He said the two men in the Jeep fled north on foot on County Farm Road.

The driver of the Colorado was taken to a local hospital with cuts to his forehead and hands and chest pain. He later reported to law enforcement that he was referred to an orthopedic specialist due to possible damage to his hands.

An eyewitness who stopped to help the crash victims said one of the men in the Jeep approached his vehicle and tried to get in. He told the man to get out of his vehicle, call 911 and wait at the scene. The man allegedly told the woman that he called 911 but had to leave because there was a warrant for his arrest. Another driver followed the men and learned they were getting into a Ford Explorer.

ISP and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office officers searched the area and located the Ford Explorer. The explorer’s driver said he picked up the two men and took them to a nearby house. He said he took them because he was upset about the cold weather and was unaware they were involved in the accident. The men, later identified as Collins and Roder, were found in a nearby pole building.

Roder had a warrant for his arrest. Officers found a hypodermic needle, meth and drug paraphernalia inside the pole building. Roder said he lives in the pole building. Collins had warrants for his arrest in Miami and Wabash counties.

Troopers interviewed Collins, who claimed he was in the passenger seat of the Jeep at the time of the crash because he did not have a driver’s license. He said Roder was driving and they came to a four-way stop, but Colorado failed to make it. Court documents say Collins told officers several implausible stories about the crash.

When officers told Collins there was no stop sign for north-south traffic at the intersection, Collins said he was pulled over and pulled over before he could correct himself. Collins said he and Roder were driving a woman to North Manchester before the crash.

Officers contacted the woman, who said Collins was driving the vehicle and Roder was a passenger.

The Colorado driver’s description of the Jeep driver also matched Collins, not Roder.

Roder was previously convicted in April 2008 in Elkhart County of selling cocaine or narcotic drugs.

Roder and Collins were booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on November 21.