SIDNEY — Kenneth Gene Burks, 48, 10450 Schenk Road, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, a fifth-degree felony, after an accident Sunday at 2:22 a.m. He also was cited with a stop sign violation and failure to control.
Burks was arraigned on the felony charge Monday in Sidney Municipal Court. Judge Duane Goettemoeller set bond at $2,500 and the case was continued for the services of an attorney.
According to a Shelby County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies and the Sidney Department of Fire & Emergency Services were dispatched to the intersection of Kuther and Schenk roads on the report of a two-vehicle injury accident. Upon arrival, the investigating deputy spoke with occupants of both vehicles; however, the driver of the at-fault vehicle was gone. The deputy initially spoke with the driver of the other vehicle, John F. Reedy, 61, of Piqua, who had been driving a pickup truck. Reedy was injured and barely able to move. A passenger from the other vehicle, Kenneth G. Burks, 21, 10155 Schenk Road, identified the driver as his uncle, Kenneth Gene Burks. Houston Rescue personnel checked the area for Burks because of concern that he might be injured, but did not find him.
Preliminary investigation revealed the Reedy pickup truck was northbound on Kuther Road. The Burks car was westbound on Schenk Road. The car ran the stop sign and struck the truck. Kenneth G. Burks said they were coming from the Dog Pound Lounge in Sidney at the time of the crash. Burks refused treatment for his injuries at the scene. Reedy was transported by the rescue squad to Wilson Memorial Hospital. He was later transported to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. He was listed in serious condition at Miami Valley Hospital on Monday.
Blood samples were to be taken from the interior of Burks car for evidence.
A deputy contacted Kenneth Gene Burks at his residence. He allegedly admitted being at Sharp’s bar, drinking “one beer” there, then going to the Dog Pound. He allegedly admitted running the stop sign. He said he didn’t remember anything after that. He said he wasn’t sure how he got home, but said the reason he ran was because he was scared. He said he was on his way to turn himself when the deputy arrived. The deputy arrested him and placed him in the Shelby County Jail. His felony case will be taken to a grand jury.
