Louisville, Ky. — A Louisville man is facing multiple charges after a crash on March 10, which left a 17-year-old girl severely injured and a child unrestrained in his vehicle.
Tula Bharati, 30, was arrested and charged with assault, two counts of wanton endangerment, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and failure to use a child restraint after the incident at the intersection of Newburg Road and East Indian Trail.
According to Louisville Metro Police, Bharati was driving west on Newburg Road when he failed to yield to a green light and made a left turn directly into the path of a 17-year-old girl, who was driving south. The resulting collision caused the teen to suffer severe leg injuries, requiring surgery. She was transported to Norton Children’s Hospital for treatment.
Further investigation revealed that Bharati had a 6-year-old child in his car who was not properly secured in a child restraint. The child was ejected into the front seat of the vehicle during the crash, suffering minor injuries.
Bharati, who was later taken to University of Louisville Hospital for treatment, was reported to have a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and was described as “very combative” by hospital staff. A subsequent breath test revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.155, more than twice the legal limit.
Court documents show that Bharati has two prior DUI convictions, further raising the severity of the charges against him. He was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. Bharati is being held in Metro Corrections on a $10,000 bond, and his driver’s license has been suspended. He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 24.
The case has drawn attention due to the serious injuries sustained by the young driver and the reckless behavior exhibited by Bharati, especially in relation to the unrestrained child in his vehicle. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.
