LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — A man was charged after allegedly being involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a Lake County correctional officer.
At around 4:05 a.m. Saturday morning, authorities responded to the area of US 30 and Austin Avenue, in Schererville, on the report of a crash.
Authorities found two vehicles with damage, a Chrysler 300 and a Honda Civic, at the scene.
The driver of the Civic, Lake County correctional officer Ronald Jones, 58, was found unconscious and “the jaws of life” were used to extricate him. Jones was pronounced dead at a hospital in Chicago.
The driver of the Chrysler 300, later identified as Jimmie Jacobs, allegedly fled the scene on foot.
Following an investigation, court documents allege that Jacobs was quickly picked up by a black SUV on US 30.
Police said due to a bagged lunch, work boots and other items in the Civic that Jones was on his way to work prior to the crash.
Detectives obtained surveillance footage which allegedly showed Jacobs “blowing through a red light,” according to documents.
Documents state that the following afternoon of the crash, Jacobs called police to report an accident and said he was unconscious and left all his belongings in the car.
Officers later took Jacobs into custody at his apartment in Schererville.
Jones was a 9-year veteran of the Lake County Jail.
“Our hearts go out to the officer’s family, friends, and colleagues, and to everyone whose lives were touched by this dedicated public servant,” Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said in a statement. “We ask the community to keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Jacobs was charged with reckless homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
His bond was set at $55,000.
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