An alleged impaired driver, a phantom driver named Rodrigo, and a hit and run all made for a rather unusual incident on July 4 just before midnight.
According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, a hit and run accident took place at the intersection of East Baker Highway and Bowens Mill Road Southeast at 11:55 p.m. on July 4. The report states that Rennisha McCutchen, driving a white 2015 Nissan Altima, had been struck by a red 2022 Ford F-350 that was turning off Bowens Mill Road onto East Baker Highway. Carlos Vanegas, 26, was eventually identified as the alleged driver of the F-350.
McCutchen was traveling north on Bowens Mill Road. As she approached the intersection, another vehicle that was traveling south made a lefthand turn on East Baker Highway. The F-350 was behind the vehicle that turned. After the first vehicle had safely completed the turn, the report states that Vanegas also turned left and into the path of McCutchen’s vehicle. McCutchen struck the pickup and stopped. The vehicle that had been in front of the Ford also stopped. The F-350, however, did not, according to the report.
The accident damaged the Ford to the point that it was leaking a great deal of oil. Officers announced a lookout for the truck and it didn’t take long before deputies found it. They followed the oil trail to Montgomery Avenue and to Old Bell Lake Road. There officers found two men walking away from a red pickup.
While deputies were questioning the two men, McCutchen was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center by EMS as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.
The Douglas police officer who had originally responded to the accident went to Old Bell Lake Road where the two men were. Initially, Vanegas denied driving the truck. He said that a man named Rodrigo, who was from either Americus or Brunswick, was driving. They had hit a deer, he said, and then they stopped. Rodrigo handed Vanegas the keys and then ran into the woods. The other individual, identified as Edgar Martinez, also said that Rodrigo had been driving but he didn’t know where Rodrigo was.
Vanegas gave officers consent to search his phone, the report says. There were no calls or texts to anyone named Rodrigo. However, the officer did see that Vanegas worked at a local restaurant and had been at a pool party with other employees.
Another person pulled up to the scene who had been at the pool party with Vanegas. She said that she saw him leave in the truck to take people home from the party. The officer then spoke with the owner of the truck who said that he had allowed people to have a party at his house but no one was supposed to be driving the truck. The owner wanted the truck reported as stolen.
After more questioning, the report states that Vanegas said that he had the green turn arrow when he turned in front of McCutchen’s car. He admitted to drinking at the party and said he left the scene because he was scared.
Vanegas was arrested and charged with theft by taking — motor vehicle, hit and run, DUI, failure to yield while turning, and driving without a license. He was transported to the Coffee County Jail but has since been released.