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A Carbondale man who was intoxicated faces charges after striking a juvenile with his truck and leaving the scene Thursday in the city, police said.
Officers responded to Seventh Avenue and South Main Street in Carbondale at 5:58 p.m. for a report of a hit-and-run involving a white pickup truck driven by Louis Charles Curtis and a juvenile on a bicycle, according to a criminal complaint. They were also notified that the truck — headed past Weis Markets on Brooklyn Street — had two small American flags on the back, police said.
A witness told officers she was standing outside Liberty Tax on South Main when she saw the child with a bike, standing just off the sidewalk, and then watched a white truck turn right from Seventh Avenue onto Main Street, hit and drive over the child, and continue to drive away without stopping, according to the criminal complaint.
The witness informed officers the truck read “Chuck’s Home Improvement” on the side and had two U.S. flags on the back of the ladder rack, police said.
Another witness — who was standing at the bus stop at the intersection — corroborated the report, leading officers to believe the vehicle belonged to Curtis, according to the criminal complaint.
An officer later witnessed Curtis pull into the parking lot and then quickly flee upon noticing the patrol vehicle, police said.
Police executed a traffic stop on the Dodge Ram along Hammond Avenue and took photos of the vehicle, officers said.
At the time, the pickup didn’t have any signs on the side and the flags had been snapped off the back, police said. The flags were found in a seat in the truck and the magnetic signs were in the bed of the truck, according to the criminal complaint.
Curtis failed several field sobriety tests during the traffic stop and, during an interview at police headquarters, continually denied knowing he had hit a child, officers said. He also refused a blood test.
The boy — identified by police as Carter Bogart — was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital for evaluation by his father, James, according to the criminal complaint.
Surveillance video from Dunkin Donuts showed Curtis’ truck traveling on Seventh Avenue toward South Main Street before turning right onto South Main, hitting the child and continuing to drive without stopping, officers said.
When questioned about leaving the scene, Curtis said he had not been there and denied hitting the juvenile, police said. Then, when confronted about the surveillance video, he told officers “his buddy was using his truck,” according to the criminal complaint.
Curtis later said he didn’t know he hit someone and thought he hit the curb, before stating he thought he hit a parked car, which is why he fled and took the evidence off his truck, police said.
Police charged Curtis, 57, with accidents involving death or personal injury, DUI–incapable of safe driving, recklessly endangering another person, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, reckless driving, careless driving, duty to give information and render aid, and driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked–DUI related.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2 at 10:45 a.m.
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