JACKSON COUNTY, Ind. — Indiana State Representative Jim Lucas bonded out of the Jackson County Jail shortly before 8 a.m., eight hours after Seymour Police detained him for an Indiana State Police investigation into a drunk driving crash.
Investigators believe Lucas was behind the wheel of his car, found abandoned and heavily damaged north of Seymour, as it crashed over a roundabout on Southbound SR 11 at the I-65 interchange. Lucas’s vehicle reportedly traveled some 200 feet toward the northbound lanes of the highway before it slammed through a guardrail, rocketed across two lanes of pavement and struck another guardrail on the inside northbound lanes.
Lucas allegedly guided his car back up onto SR 11 and headed in the direction of Seymour before the vehicle was found with three blown tires. The lawmaker was discovered walking at SR 11 and Redding Road.
Lucas was arrested by a state trooper on two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and one count of leaving the scene of a crash.
He was released on a $705 bond.
State police also tell us, “A blood test was performed at Schneck Medical Center. The results are pending.”
Attempts to reach Lucas at his home and business were unsuccessful.
State House Speaker Todd Huston refused comment on the “personal matter.”
Governor Eric Holcomb said, ”That’s for him and I hope he gets the help he needs and that would be for the General Assembly to decide. There would be a process if it happened in the Executive branch that we would follow but I won’t prejudge the outcome before he’s offered his day in court.”
Lucas was first elected to the Statehouse in 2012 and has been a high-profile lawmaker on issues of gun rights and marijuana decriminalization.
Lucas represents House District 69 which includes portions of Bartholomew, Jackson, Washington and Scott counties.
