HANCOCK COUNTY — The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a suspect in the hit-and-run crash Friday that left a bicyclist critically injured.
Jonathan Jacobi, 37, of the 3000 block of East State Road 38, Markleville, was arrested Monday morning by deputies after Jacobi came in for an interview about the accident.
Jacobi admitted striking the cyclist, Terry Huff, 67, Anderson, as both were westbound Friday morning on State Road 234 west of State Road 9. Huff and his bicycle were thrown into a ditch, and he was rescued only after flagging down a passing motorist. Huff was still listed in critical condition at IU Methodist Hospital at press time Monday, a hospital spokesman said.
Video surveillance led to Jacobi’s arrest, Robert Harris, public information officer for the sheriff’s department, said in a news release.
Detectives went to work immediately after the crash looking for video footage from homeowners and businesses in the area. They found a recording that showed what appeared to be the suspect’s pickup truck in the area. Based on pieces broken off the suspect’s vehicle found at the scene, they were looking for a Ford F250 or larger pickup with a broken headlight assembly.
Deputies located a vehicle matching the description of the truck that hit Huff at a body shop in Marion County. It was a Ford F350, which is similar to the F250.
That discovery led investigators to Jacobi, who admitted during an interview to being the driver in the crash.
It wasn’t clear why the suspect fled.
Jacobi was booked into the Hancock County Jail on a preliminary charge of leaving the scene of a crash that caused serious bodily injury, a Level 6 felony that carries a sentence of up to 2½ years in jail. However, the investigation is continuing, and more charges are expected.
The victim, who was wearing a bright yellow reflective safety vest at the time of the accident, should have been easily visible on the road, officials said at the time. Huff was also wearing a helmet.
Huff was riding with traffic near the edge of the road when he was struck from behind.
Jacobi is currently in jail awaiting an initial hearing, which could be as early as today, law enforcement officials said.
