Staff Report

James Robert Roder

Taylend Ray Collins

CLAYPOOL — Two Claypool men were recently arrested after they left a vehicle accident without waiting for law enforcement.

James Robert Roder, 39, 3616 W. 700S, Claypool, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe, both level 6 felonies; possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor; and possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony.

Taylend Ray Collins, 18, 3019 W. Hill Lake Road, Claypool, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident with moderate or serious bodily injury, a level 6 felony; and knowingly or intentionally operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license, a class C misdemeanor.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, an Indiana State Police trooper responded to a vehicle accident at South County Farm Road and East CR 800S, east of Claypool. The trooper received information about injuries and one of the involved drivers leaving the scene.

According to court documents, a Chevrolet Colorado hit a tree head-on after hitting a Jeep Cherokee. The Jeep was still at the scene.

The Colorado’s driver said he was traveling south on County Farm Road when the Jeep entered the intersection from the east and hit his vehicle. He said two men in the Jeep fled north on foot on County Farm Road.

The Colorado’s driver was taken to a local hospital for lacerations to his forehead and hands, and for chest pain. He later informed law enforcement he was referred to an orthopedic specialist for possible damage to his hands.

A witness who stopped to assist the crash victims said one of the men who had been inside the Jeep approached her vehicle and attempted to get inside of it. She told the man to get out of her vehicle and call 911 to wait at the scene. The man allegedly told the woman he called 911, but needed to leave because he had a warrant for his arrest. Another driver followed the men and learned they got into a Ford Explorer.

Officers with ISP and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office searched the area and found the Ford Explorer. The Explorer’s driver said he picked up two men and gave them a ride to a nearby residence. He said he picked them up because he felt bad for them due to the cold weather and was unaware they were involved in an accident. The men, later identified as Collins and Roder, were found in a nearby pole building.

Roder had a warrant for his arrest. Officers found a hypodermic needle, meth and drug paraphernalia inside the pole building. Roder said he lived in the pole building. Collins had warrants for his arrest out of Miami and Wabash Counties.

Troopers interviewed Collins, who claimed he was in the Jeep’s passenger seat during the crash because he doesn’t have a driver’s license. He said Roder was driving and that they came to a four-way stop, with the Colorado failing to do so. Court documents state Collins gave several stories about the accident to officers that did not make sense.

When officers told Collins there wasn’t a stop sign for north-south traffic at the intersection, Collins said he was stopped before correcting himself and saying they were stopped. Collins said he and Roder were driving a woman to North Manchester prior to the accident.

Officers contacted the woman, who said Collins drove the vehicle and Roder was a passenger.

The Colorado driver’s description of the Jeep’s driver also matched Collins, and not Roder.

Roder was previously convicted of dealing cocaine or a narcotic drug in Elkhart County in April 2008.

Roder and Collins were booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Nov. 21.