Columbia man arrested following Christmas Eve car chase
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been fixed for the location of the crash and information about the man arrested.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia man was arrested after a car chase left one person hospitalized on Sunday night.
Avion Darnell Skillman, 20, was booked into the Boone County Jail on several crimes including first-degree property damage, resisting arrest, and leaving the scene of an accident. He was released on bond.
Skillman was part of a two-car crash at the intersection of Woodrail Ave and Forum Boulevard around 9:30 p.m. Boone County Joint Communications posted on social media that the southbound lanes of Forum Boulevard were closed as a result. The road was opened back up just before 10 p.m.
A Boone County deputy told an ABC 17 reporter who was on the scene that authorities were chasing after a stolen car. They also said there were three people in the at the time of the crash.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the car was a 2011 Dodge Ram that was being driven by Skillman.
The Dodge Ram was traveling north in the southbound lane of Forum Blvd and struck a Hyundai Elantra being driven by 60-year-old Ronald Ballenger head-on. The Dodge Ram then spun and traveled off the left side of the roadway before striking a stop sign.
The Skillman and the two other people in the stolen car were arrested by police, while Ballenger was taken to University Hospital with moderate injuries.
ABC 17 crews witnessed five cars from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Sheriff's office and multiple ambulances on the scene. A tow truck was also used to haul away the stolen car.
