A 16-year-old Leesburg boy has been preliminarily charged as a result of an accident early Tuesday morning.
Cole Hyden was charged with driving while intoxicated, causing serious bodily injury while operating a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. He was released into the custody of his mother.
According to Kosciusko County Sheriff reports, the car was headed north on CR 100E at a high rate of speed when Hyden lost control. The car rolled over twice before coming to rest in a corn field.
Three passengers were seriously injured in the accident. Charles A. Lisenbee, 16, West Pike Street, Warsaw, was admitted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. He is listed in fair condition with a broken hip. Tamela Jordon, 16, of CR 575N, Leesburg, was taken to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne with a broken pelvis. She is in fair condition. Samuel Hyden was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital for serious lacerations on his arm.
According to Andrea Hyden, Cole's sister who was also in the car, Cole helped them out of the car before he fled the scene. He was found by police as he ran toward his home.
The blood test on Cole reported his blood alcohol level at .131 percent, over the legal limit of .10. Cole was charged with felony driving while intoxicated because the injuries to the passengers were so serious, police reports indicate.