Johnson County deputies charged a local man after he allegedly fled from the scene of an accident.

Eric Michael Cole, 20, 2340 Muscatine Ave. Apt. 33, was charged May 5 with leaving the scene of an accident with injury, a serious misdemeanor.

According to a complaint, Cole was involved in an accident but allegedly fled on foot through a field when officers arrived, despite their telling him to stop.

Ninety minutes after the accident, deputies said they found Cole hiding in a small ditch.

The report said Cole later admitted under Miranda he knew deputies were following but fled because he did not have a valid driver’s license.

The report said Cole complained of severe chest, rib, and neck pain, and had several cuts and bruises, for which he was taken to the hospital.

— by Hayley Bruce