A driver and his passengers fled the scene on foot after striking an oncoming car on Highway 35, just north of the Highway 82 crossing to Lansing, Iowa early on Saturday evening, Jan. 19.

Justine La Fond, 26, and her passenger Phil La Fond, both of LaCrosse, were northbound in a 2006 Nissan Murano when the driver of a southbound 2002 Grand Caravan crossed the centerline, striking La Fond on the driver’s side, pushing the vehicle against a cement barrier. La Fond’s vehicle came to rest across both lanes of travel with heavy damage.

Both La Fond and her passenger had minor injuries.

The Vernon County Deputy K9 unit arrived on scene and assisted Crawford County Deputy in finding the driver of the Caravan. John Boardman, 71, of De Soto, was found at his residence a few hundred yards south of the accident scene with injuries to his face and hands. After further investigation, deputies found Boardman to be the operator of the Caravan, but were unable to locate the other passengers in the vehicle.

Boardman was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, operating after revocation, operating left of center, operate motor vehicle without insurance, and failure of operator to notify police of accident.

Assisting on the scene were Ferryville Fire Department, Ferryville First Responders, DeSoto Fire Department, DeSoto First Responders, Eastman Fire Department, Tri-State EMS of La Crosse, Bob’s Towing, Lansing Police Department and Vernon County Sheriff’s Department.

Anyone with any information regarding this case should contact the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department of Crawford County Crime Stoppers.