LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man is in custody after allegedly hitting a pedestrian, attacking nearby vehicles with a sledgehammer and then crashing into a concrete barrier Thursday near the VA Hospital in Louisville.
Aaron Ellis, a spokesperson for Louisville Metro Police, said officers responded around 11:40 a.m. on a reported pedestrian hit on Zorn Avenue near Interstate 71, close to the VA Hospital.
Police said officers found a teenage boy with leg injuries after he'd been hit by an SUV. It's believed the boy was hit by a white Jeep driven by a man.
According to police, the victim got out to assess the damage to his car when the suspect hit him with the Jeep as well. The boy's injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.
Other witnesses told police the driver of the SUV was possibly suffering from a mental health issue. Police identified the driver as 61-year-old James Wells Jr.
After hitting the boy, police said Wells crashed into multiple other vehicles with his SUV and, at one point, allegedly got out and used a small sledgehammer to attack nearby vehicles, police said.
Wells then got back in the car and fled down Zorn Avenue and crashed into a concrete barrier on the property of the VA or near their ER entrance.
VA Police responded and detained Wells until LMPD officers took him into custody. Wells was initially charged by LMPD for assault, wanton endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident, but police said federal charges are expected.
This story may be updated.
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