Elsmere Man Facing Assault Charge After Driving Incident at Big Bone Lick

One person sustained life-threatening injuries.

Dylan Brinkman. Photo provided.

(Boone County, Ky.) – An Elsmere man has been charged following an incident at Big Bone Lick State Park.

Boone County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the park early Friday morning for an unconscious person who had sustained life threatening injuries.

The initial investigation revealed that Sean P. Smith, 19, of Florence, had fallen off a car and sustained a life-threatening head injury. He was airlifted to UC Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.

Investigators say Dylan T. Brinkman, 21, of Elsmere, drove Smith and another man to Big Bone Lick State Park that night, where they met two others who had arrived in a separate vehicle.

Brinkman parked his vehicle and his two passengers exited the vehicle and placed themselves on opposite ends of the car. Brinkman then pulled out of the parking lot onto Mastodon Trail and accelerated. The acceleration caused Smith to fall from the rear of the vehicle and onto the pavement.

According to a news release, Brinkman left the scene while others dialed 911 to get assistance for Smith.

Further investigation revealed that Brinkman and Smith had been consuming alcohol prior to the incident. Brinkman allegedly told detectives that he knew Smith was intoxicated, while admitting the same about himself. He also told plice that his vehicle was under 15 MPH when Smith fell from the vehicle.

Brinkman is charged with one county of Assault 1st Degree and is lodged at the Kenton County Detention Center on $100,000 cash bond.