Urbana crash sends man to hospital, leads to search for drunk driver

URBANA — A man is in the hospital in serious condition and another is in custody after a crash in the 500 block of West County Line Road in Urbana.

Emergency crews first responded to a report of a two-car injury crash at 8:32 p.m. yesterday.

After arrival, CareFlight was called, and transported Robert Heitman, 59, of Urbana, to Miami Valley Hospital. Heitman was the driver of one of the vehicles.

The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene on foot.

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With assistance from the Clark County and Champaign County sheriff’s offices, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers searched for the second driver in the area for more than an hour. A highway patrol helicopter team and canine teams from Clark Coutny and Mechanicsburg Police Department helped in the search.

Eventually, the driver who fled the scene, Terry Baker, 59, of Urbana, was found in the woods near the railroad tracks. Baker was found to be under the influence of alcohol.

According to the highway patrol, as of 2:30 a.m. Heitman was listed in serious but stable condition at Miami Valley Hospital.

This crash remains under investigation.