Indiana State Police say that an allegedly drunk driver who hit and killed a Colts linebacker on Interstate 70 early yesterday morning, was using a fake name and has twice been deported from the country.

Troopers say that 37-year-old Manuel Orrego-Savala was driving the truck that hit and killed Colts player Edwin Jackson as well as Jackson’s ride share driver, 54 year old Jeffrey Monroe of Avon, at just before 4 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 70 near Holt Road.

Although originally identified as Alex Cabrera Gonsales Police, police say that was an alias. His given name is Orrego-Savala and he a citizen of Guatemala. He had been previously deported in 2007 and again in 2009. State police investigators are working with U.S. Federal Immigration Officials and they have placed a hold on Orrego-Savala.

A North Vernon man was arrested early this morning in Columbus, accused of trying to pass fake $20 bills at a restaurant and several gas stations.

24-year-old Micah F. Rogers is facing preliminary charges of forgery and theft.

Police say that they were called at about 12:15 a.m. to the McDonalds on the west side after an employee received a fake bill at the drive thru. The suspect then sped away. Police located the vehicle at a gas station and discovered Rogers was allegedly carrying an envelope with 24 $20 bills, all with the same serial number.

Police say he also used the fake money to buy food at several gas stations.

Columbus police are investigating a fatal crash last night on U.S. 31.

28-year-old Ashley D. Corbin of Columbus died after her car slid into oncoming traffic and was struck by a moving company truck. Police say that the accident happened at about 9:23 p.m. Sunday night near County Road 50N when Corbin lost control and went into the northbound lanes.

She was hit by a truck driven by 27-year-old Phillip B. Amburgey of Columbus. Corbin was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where she died from her injuries. Amburgey was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation. Columbus Township firefighters assisted at the scene.

Indiana State Police say that four people were arrested last week near Elizabethtown, part of a multi agency raid related to drugs.

State troopers, along with the Jennings County and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Departments, Columbus Police detectives and the local joint narcotics enforcement team served the search warrant in the 9500 block of North Jennings County Road 700W Thursday evening.

Officers allegedly located methamphetamine, controlled substances, methamphetamine precursors, syringes, and drug paraphernalia. Indiana State Troopers arrested four people at the home. Those included the homeowner, 39 year old Nicholas J. Johnson, 41 year old Christopher C. Parrott and 39-year-old Nicole Schlapp, both of Greensburg, and 29-year-old Kelly L. Williams of Columbus.

All of the suspects were taken to the Jennings County Jail. They are facing charges including”

• Johnson — Possession of methamphetamine, a syringe, a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia as well as maintaining a common nuisance.
• Parrott — Possession of methamphetamine, a syringe, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine precursors as well as maintaining a common nuisance.
• Schlapp — Possession of methamphetamine, a syringe and drug paraphernalia as well as visiting a common nuisance.
• Williams — Visiting a common nuisance and an outstanding Jennings County warrant

Anyone with information about criminal activity taking place in the ISP-Versailles District (Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings, Jefferson, Ripley, Decatur, Franklin, Dearborn, Ohio, and Switzerland Counties) is encouraged to call the Versailles Post at 812-689-5000.

North Vernon police say that a surgeon recovered a plastic baggie with an unknown substance from a suspect’s stomach. Police have asked that the contents of the baggie betested.

In an incident last week, 26-year-old Justin W. Jarrell was arrested Tuesday, accused of  resisting law enforcement and obstruction of justice by destroying evidence.

Police say that Jarrell refused to pull over for a traffic stop. Police took Jarrell to the Jennings County Jail, but a short time later, he became ill and admitted to swallowing three grams of methamphetamine. He was taken to St. Vincent Jennings Hospital where he vomited up a baggie, allegedly containing drugs.

He was then taken to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianpaolis where the additional baggie was discovered, according to police reports.

Officers recovered the plastic bag with an unidentified substance from medical staff after if was removed from Mr. Jarrell’s stomach on Wednesday evening. A laboratory request has been made to identify the substance. Additional charges may be pending the identification of the substance.

Third House sessions are underway again for this legislative session.

The Monday morning chats with local legislators are put on by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber president Cindy Frey says that the sessions kicked off last Monday.

Frey says that Third House Sessions are open forums, where the public can address their legislators directly. the sessions kicked off last Monday.

Last week’s session included State Rep. Jim Lucas, and State Senators Eric Koch and Greg Walker.

Lucas, a Seymour Republican, has been pushing several controversial measures including constitutional carry for firearms and legalizing medical marijuana. Lucas also represents part of southern Bartholomew County.

The Third House sessions are held every Monday while the legislature is in session. They start at 7:30 a.m. at Mill Race Center.

A Jennings County teen is facing felony charges after shooting his little sister in the eye with a BB gun Friday.

The 10-year-old girl was admitted to the St. Vincent Jennings Hospital Emergency Room at 10:34 p.m. Friday night. Police were called in and interviewed her 15-year-old brother. The boy said that his sister had been bugging him so he fired, planning to hit the wall, instead striking her in the face.

After talking to a juvenile probation officer, police arrested the boy on preliminary felony charges of battery with serious bodily injury, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon.

He was taken to the Jackson County Juvenile Detention center. Authorities say that the boy was on probation after a felony intimidation offense.

An Indianapolis Colts player died after being struck by an allegedly drunk driver on Interstate 70 early this morning.

Indiana State Police say that 26-year-old Edwin Jackson, of Atlanta, Ga., and 54-year-old Jeffrey Monroe of Avon were killed at just before 4 a.m. Sunday morning after being struck while standing on the side of the Interstate near Holt Road.

State police say that Monroe was a ride-share driver and Jackson, his passenger. According to investigators, after the passenger became ill, the driver pulled over and got out of the vehicle to assist the passenger.

That was when they were hit by a pickup truck that drove onto the shoulder, striking the car and both Jackson and Monroe.  One of the victims was thrown into the center lane of Interstate 70, where he was hit by further traffic including a state police patrol car.

The driver of the truck, 37 year old Alex Cabrera Gonsales of Indianapolis, allegedly ran from the scene. State police believe he was intoxicated and was driving without a license. He was taken to the Marion County Jail and a test for intoxication is pending.

Westbound I-70 was closed at Holt Road until about 11 a.m.

Jackson, a linebacker, was signed in 2015 and sat out this season with an injury. The Colts released a statement:

“We were heartbroken to hear the news of Edwin Jackson’s passing. Edwin was loved by all in the Colts organization. We admired his outgoing personality, competitive spirit and hard-working mentality. He was well-respected among all with whom he crossed paths, and he will be greatly missed in our locker room and throughout our entire organization. We also understand that another person lost his life in the accident, only adding to our sorrow on this day. We are shocked and saddened by this tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of both men during this difficult time.”

The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation is taking steps to insure that its students are safe after the unfortunate death of CSA Lincoln Elementary student Savanna Jessie. Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts says that the school corporation “makes up one part of the community’s responsibility to keep our children healthy throughout the year.”

Roberts says that BCSC has contacted Dr. Roy Goode, the corporation physician, the Bartholomew County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health. He says that although there is no reporting requirement regarding illness rates until the absence rate reaches 20 percent, and BCSC rate hovers around five-percent, school officials want to share important information about the spread of germs. That includes:

– contacting your primary care provider when your child displays flu-like symptoms;
– students and staff members who are sick should stay home;
– students and staff members are encouraged to get the flu vaccine;
– students and staff members should be vigilant in taking everyday preventive actions, like hand washing;

Roberts says that BCSC respects parents’ decisions on keeping their children home, but he stresses that they will need to keep school officials appraised of any absences.

The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office says the investigation into the death of a seven-year-old girl is ongoing. Coroner Clayton Nolting says that Savanna G. Jessie was found unresponsive in her home by family members Thursday morning. Emergency responders rushed her to Columbus Regional Health, where she was pronounced dead.

Nolting says the child had been treated after testing positive for influenza B, strep throat and scarlet fever. An autopsy was performed Friday by a forensic pathologist. Nolting adds that a final ruling on the cause of death is pending review of medical records, toxicology, and histology reports. He says that could take up to three weeks.