Roemer ordered that Ruby could only ask Georgeson whether the crash happened; whether he had reported it to the homeowner, to Juneau County dispatch or to his supervisor; and whether he left the scene of the crash without reporting it.

In an exchange before the jury later that lasted less than 30 seconds, Georgeson admitted under cross examination by Ruby that he did not report the crash to the homeowner, did not immediately report the crash to dispatch or his supervisor, and left the scene of the crash without reporting it to anyone.

State law stipulates that the driver of a vehicle in an accident resulting in damage to property adjacent to a highway “shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of such property” and also “shall make report of such accident” if it meets certain requirements.

The requirements include damage of $200 or more to government-owned property “except a state or other government-owned vehicle,” and to a government-owned vehicle or any person if the damage is $1,000 or more. State law also makes it an offense to leave the scene of a crash without reporting it and an offense to falsify an accident report.