Republican State Representative Jim Lucas was arrested and held in the Jackson County Jail early last Wednesday morning, May 31, after police said he drove while intoxicated and left the scene of an accident in the northeast area of the county.
Lucas crashed his vehicle near the intersection of State Road 11 & Interstate 65, just north of Seymour, around midnight, an Indiana State Police spokesperson said. Police said he left the scene in the crashed vehicle.
Seymour police officers found Lucas’ vehicle a short time later at a different location off State Road 11 near Rockford and Lucas was found near the vehicle on foot, according to ISP. Lucas was then by a trooper from the state police Versailles Post.
The 58-year-old was booked into the Jackson County Jail at 3:46 a.m. on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage.
Lucas was released from jail at 7:53 a.m. after posting a $705 bond.
Lucas represents District 69 in southern Indiana which covers portions of Jackson, Bartholomew, Scott and Washington counties including Crothersville and Austin.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb emphasized Wednesday that it’s up to the General Assembly to decide whether Lucas should continue to serve as a legislator or face other repercussions, separate from any criminal penalties.
“I won’t pre-judge the outcome before he’s offered his day in court,” Holcomb said. “I hope he gets the help that he needs.”
Lucas was first elected in 2012 and most recently championed House Bill 1177 during the 2023 legislative session. The measure creates a state-funded gun training program for school staff.
(Indiana Capital Chronicle’s Casey Smith contributed to this story.)