Katley Amanda Johnson, 24, of Star City, has been arrested by Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division. She is charged in connection with a motor vehicle hit and run incident at Monticello Saturday night (March 16, 2019) that left a Southeast Oklahoma University baseball player critically injured.
Johnson has been formally charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury or death (Class D felony), tampering with physical evidence (Class D felony) and obstructing governmental operations (Class C misdemeanor). Johnson was booked into the Drew County Detention Center about 4:30 PM today and bond has been set at $20,000.
Joseph D. Cerda, Jr., 21 (initially reported to ASP as age 20), was seriously injured at approximately 8:10 PM last Saturday when he was allegedly struck by a vehicle driven by Johnson that was traveling north along U.S. Highway 425. Cerda was among a group of baseball teammates from Southeast Oklahoma University who were crossing the highway on foot to get to a local restaurant. The Oklahoma baseball team had been participating in a game at the University of Arkansas – Monticello.
Teammates told Arkansas State Troopers they saw Cerda attempt to jump away from the path of the car, but was struck. The driver of the car did not stop.
Cerda was transported to a Monticello hospital and later airlifted to be treated at a Little Rock hospital.
The Arkansas State Police investigation is continuing.