A rollover crash early Sunday morning on the U.S. 60 bypass left one man hospitalized with serious injuries and another in jail on multiple charges, including DUI and assault, according to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.
The single-vehicle accident occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. near the New Hartford Road exit, according to DCSO. Authorities said emergency crews arrived to find a 2007 Infiniti overturned in the westbound lanes.
Authorities said the car had been traveling eastbound when it veered off the road, crossed the median, and rolled several times before coming to rest in the opposite lanes. One passenger, identified as Angelo Castillo Lopez, was ejected from the vehicle and transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital in serious condition, the release says.
Another occupant, Rogelic Ramos-Tomas, was helped from the vehicle by a witness before attempting to flee the scene on foot, DCSO said. He was later identified and provided a statement to deputies.
The driver, 33-year-old Jose Perez Lopez, of Owensboro, also attempted to flee but was located shortly after by Owensboro Police officers at a nearby gas station, the release says. He was taken back to the scene, where field sobriety tests were conducted, and he was arrested by deputies.
Lopez was booked into the Daviess County Detention Center on charges of second-degree assault, DUI with aggravating circumstances, first-degree wanton endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid, and traffic-related offenses, including failure to produce insurance and license to be in possession.
The crash remains under investigation by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office Accident Reconstruction Unit. Authorities said alcohol was a major contributing factor.
The westbound lanes of the bypass were closed for about 2.5 hours during the investigation. Responding agencies included Owensboro-Daviess County Central Dispatch, Owensboro Police Department, Owensboro and Daviess County Fire Departments, Masonville Fire Department, AMR Ambulance Service, the Daviess County Detention Center, and Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
