COAL HILL (KFSM) — Coal Hill Police have arrested a man in connection with a hit and run accident that sent two people on a motorcycle to Little Rock hospitals Saturday (Dec. 15) night.
Coal Hill Police Chief Brad Kent told 5NEWS that a joint investigation with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and the Arkansas State Police resulted in the arrest of Dameion Eugene Hamilton, 40, from Coal Hill
Kent said Hamilton was arrested about 7:45 p.m. Monday (Dec. 17) after being interviewed by Coal Hill Police and Arkansas State Police. Hamilton was charged with two counts of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with injury, both class D felonies. He was being booked into the Johnson County Detention Center early Tuesday (Dec. 18).
Kent said tips from the public helped lead to the arrest in the accident.
The accident happened at the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and 4th Street just west of the Circle 64 convenience store shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday.
According to Kent, a motorcycle driven by Jeremy Roberts of Hartman was traveling west on U.S. 64 with Melissa McClelland of Bigelow as his passenger. Hamilton was driving a maroon pickup traveling east.
Kent said Hamilton crossed the center line, veering toward the motorcycle. Roberts told Kent he turned to the right toward the ditch alongside the road to avoid the collision, but the truck impacted the bike on its left side.
According to Kent, both Roberts and McClelland were airlifted separately to hospitals in Little Rock.
A family member tells 5NEWS that Roberts had to have his leg amputated, and McClelland also had a severe leg injury.