Hit-and-run suspect pleads guilty following crash
Published 10:55 am Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The driver of a car that crashed on West Oakland Avenue in October pleaded guilty Friday to allegations that he was drunk and fled the scene of the crash.
Michael Lee Rutledge, 30, pleaded guilty to two gross misdemeanor charges, DWI and fleeing the scene of an accident.
According to court documents, Rutledge was the driver of a Monte Carlo in a collision that broke the leg of his passenger, 34-year-old Amy Ellis of Waltham.
The driver of the other car involved, a Cadillac Seville, told police Rutledge sped up behind him so quickly he thought Rutledge’s vehicle was going to crash into the rear of his Seville.
The collision caused Rutledge’s Monte Carlo to flip and slide more than 100 feet, landing in the westbound lane near Holiday Ford.
Witnesses told police Rutledge had fled on foot. Three days after the crash, Rutledge turned himself in to police, accompanied by a lawyer.
According to court documents, Rutledge had his license revoked in 2010 for driving with an alcohol content of .08 or more.
Rutledge is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 24.