A prominent local businessman and property developer surrendered to authorities Saturday after a warrant was issue for his arrest in connection with a hit-and-run accident in downtown Corbin Friday.
Jim Vance, 68, of Corbin, is facing a single charge of leaving the scene of an accident. He turned himself in to the Whitley County Detention Center Saturday at about 10:07 a.m. after learning Corbin Policehad sworn out a warrant for his arrest.
According to the warrant, Vance was driving his 2005 yellow Hummer when he struck a 1999 Dodge vehicle parked in front of Whitaker Bank on Main Street. The alleged victim of the crash, Lester Daniels, claims Vance talked to him briefly before he fled the scene.
"The witness said it was a yellow Hummer with an older gray-haired gentleman with a cast on his arm driving it," Corbin Police Department Public Information Officer Rob Jones said. "The description fit Mr. Vance. After investigating we determined it was him."
Corbin Police Officer Jeff Hill is investigating the incident.
Vance was released on a $5,000 cash bond about an hour after being booked at the jail.
The alleged crash is not Vance’s first scrape with the law.
He was arrested during the early morning hours of February 28, 2007 by Kentucky State Police Troopers Bill Elliott and Don Sivils when he fled from police running a safety checkpoint near his southern Laurel County home. Officers boxed Vance in with their vehicles to get him to stop. He was charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, DUI, reckless driving and fleeing and evading police in the wake of the incident.
Pursuant to a plea deal, all felony charges against him were reduced to misdemeanors and dismissed with the exception of the sole DUI charge. He paid a fine and lost his driver’s license for 90 days.
He was arrested in Oct. 2008 in London after being pulled over following his participation in a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament. The London police officer who arrested him said Vance failed field sobriety tests, but subsequent tests shows his blood-alcohol content was well below the legal limit and all charges were dropped.
Vance is part owner or sole proprietor of several local businesses including: Eagle Falls Resort, Corbin Bingo Parlor, Vanbar Outdoor Advertising and The Landmark Inn. He owns 51 acres of prime commercial property off of Cumberland Falls Hwy., in south Corbin and the Corbin Bypass, and another 58 acres of similar real estate in the same area as a member of RJV Properties – a real estate partnership.
For a more complete story, see this week’s print edition of The News Journal.
