Columbus man hurt after early morning crash on 25th Street

A Columbus man was hurt after a crash in the early morning hours of Thursday.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that Deputies Nate Nichols and Matt Bush arrived on the scene, in the 8000 block of East 25th Street in Columbus, at about 1:10 a.m. First responders reportedly found a vehicle resting on its side in a tree line on the north side of the road.

Deputies spoke with a witness who stated that she was an acquaintance of the driver, 30-year-old James Rodarte. The unidentified woman reportedly told them that she had met Rodarte at a convenience store at 25th Street and Taylor Road. The woman is reported at saying that, for an undisclosed reason, Rodarte became angry. The witness told investigators that she then decided to leave and noticed moments later that Rodarte was following her. As the vehicles traveled east on 25th Street, Rodarte apparently lose control of his vehicle and crashed into the tree line.

Rodarte was airlifted by Lifeline to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. His condition has not been released. No one else was reported injured.

Jackson adds that Sgt. T. A. Smith was called to the scene to reconstruct the accident. It remains under investigation.