Police: Driver overdosed on heroin before hitting worker outside auto shop

WEST PRICE HILL, OH (FOX19) - Cincinnati Police say a driver was on heroin when he hit an employee of an auto parts store in West Price Hill.

It happened shortly before 11 a.m. in the 5300 block of Glenway Avenue, near Casa Loma Boulevard.

Michael Felchner, 36, apparently overdosed, jumped a curb and entered the Advanced Auto Parts parking lot where Wember Grande, 24, was working on his vehicle.

Police said Felchner had sluggish responses to questions, and non reactive pupils. Court records said he told police he used Ativan prior to the crash.

"There is indications of impairment on the suspected driver and he's been taken down to the traffic unit for further testing," Sgt. Michael Hudepohl said.

Felchner's vehicle struck Grande and continued across the parking lot before coming to a stop in bushes, according to Cincinnati Police.

"He's got a broken femur, broken arm. they said possibly in three locations. He's got pretty big gashes on his face, so he's pretty messed up,"Grande's brother Calvin said.

Hudepohl said Felchner was under the influence of heroin when he lost control of his car and hit Grande, who may have been trying to change a battery for a customer at the time.

"According to what we see with the tire marks it appears the vehicle was out of control about slightly before this point where we're standing. It was rotating. As it was rotating it went off the right side of the road. Hopped the curb there into the parking lot. We can see almost exactly where it struck the other vehicle which was parked in the parking lot," Rob Uhlembrock with the CPD Traffic Division said.

Grande was taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He is reportedly in critical condition.

His brother Calvin said he's got faith he's going to be OK.

"He's going to make it, he's just really banged up," he said.

In addition to impairment, police say speed is also a factor in the crash.

Felchner is charged with aggravated vehicular assault and vehicular assault.

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