Cops: Madison Man Caught After Fleeing Accident

A 22-year-old Madison man was apprehended after eluding police for three hours when he fled the scene of a motor vehicle accident that left a telephone pole and three transformers down on Park Avenue over the weekend, said.

Madison Patrolman Matthew Mirabella charged Carlton Yost with obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, careless driving, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to report an accident Saturday at about 2:20 a.m.

Mirabella had earlier responded to a report of a car accident in the area of 99 Park Ave. According to police, a telephone pole with three transformers had been knocked to the ground along with power lines and phone lines.

An unidentified passenger in the vehicle was taken to the hospital with injuries. The driver, identified as Yost, had fled the scene on foot but after a three-hour investigation and search was located on the corner of Park Avenue and Columbia Turnpike in Florham Park, police said.

Yost was taken to headquarters for processing and released pending a mandatory court appearance. The Madison Electric Department and Verizon restored power and completed repairs by Saturday at 6 p.m. The passenger was released from the hospital with minor injuries. Det. Lt. Jerry Mantone assisted with the investigation.