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Police: Drunk driver hits 2 people, kills 1 in Columbus

Posted at 6:37 AM, Mar 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-27 14:30:15-04

COLUMBUS, Ind. -- One person was killed and another was hospitalized Sunday evening when a vehicle hit two pedestrians in Columbus, Indiana.

Police say Anshul Sharma, 30, and Samira Bharadwaj, 28, were hit by a red 2007 Chrysler minivan at the intersection of Taylor Road and Lakeside Drive around 7 p.m.

Sharma died at the scene. Bharadwaj was flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and was in critical condition as of Monday morning.

A witness told officers he saw a red minivan with a damaged windshield driving recklessly nearby after the crash. A short time later, they located the vehicle parked in a driveway.

Police say they spoke with Michael Demaio, 36, and suspected he was impaired. He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where officers say he failed several sobriety exercises and consented to a blood test.

Demaio was taken to Bartholomew County Jail on the following preliminary charges:

  • Failure to stop after an accident resulting in death-OWI (Level 3 Felony)
  • Failure to stop after an accident resulting in injury-OWI (Level 3 Felony)
  • Operating while intoxicated resulting in death (Level 5 Felony)
  • Operating while intoxicated resulting in injury (Level 6 Felony)