TULSA, Okla. –Tulsa police arrested a man accused of leaving the scene after a crash that seriously injured another driver near East 52nd Street and Riverside Drive.
Investigators said the crash happened when the driver of a pickup truck, 74-year-old Robert Spellman, failed to stop at a stop sign while traveling west on East 52nd Street and pulled into the path of a Dodge Charger traveling north on Riverside Drive.
Driver accused of leaving injured victim
According to police, witnesses said Spellman briefly paused after the collision, looked toward the injured driver and then drove away from the scene.
Officers arrived to find a 21-year-old man inside the Charger with a piece of metal lodged in his chest. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and is expected to recover.
Witness helps police track suspect
Police said one witness followed Spellman from the crash scene to an apartment complex and provided officers with the location.
When officers checked the apartment complex, they did not find him.
Suspect returns about an hour later
About an hour after the crash, police said Spellman returned to the crash scene in a different vehicle.
According to investigators, Spellman told officers he left because he had a dentist appointment.
Spellman was taken to a hospital to be medically cleared before being arrested.
Charge filed
Spellman was booked into the Tulsa County Jail on a complaint of leaving the scene of an injury collision.
The investigation remains ongoing.
