HCSO investigates one-car crash in East Monroe

By Mark Branham

EAST MONROE – Early Thursday morning, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a one-car vehicle crash near East Monroe.

At 3:03 a.m., the 911 dispatch center took the call that a car was on its top at 11080 S.R. 28 just east of East Monroe. Paint Creek Fire/EMS was sent to the scene as well as deputies from the sheriff’s department.

According to authorities, the vehicle, a blue Nissan Maxima, was traveling westbound on Route 28 just before New Martinsburg Road, when the driver lost control. The car skidded across the road, left of center, and crashed into an embankment off the left side of the roadway, causing it to flip around backward.

The vehicle’s rear then slammed into a driveway culvert and flipped, end-over-end, landing upside-down on the driveway.

Despite heavy damage to the car, firefighters and deputies could not locate the driver at the scene.

Evidence inside the car suggested that the occupant(s) were injured as hair and fresh blood were found by firefighters.

According to the investigating deputy on scene, the car did not have a license plate on it and it had to be flipped over before they were able to obtain a VIN number to identify the owner of the car. Once on its wheels, they were able to run the VIN and determine the owner.

They were also able to find a registration in the vehicle and it was determined that the car was registered with a 30 day tag and was reported stolen.

Alcohol is presumed to be a factor in the crash.

If you have any information regarding this crash or the possible theft of a blue Nissan Maxima, please contact the Highland County Sheriff’s office at 937-393-1421.