A driver faced charges Saturday afternoon after he narrowly missed some people and crashed into a tree during Lexington's downtown St. Patrick's Day parade.

Police said Dwight Napier was charged with leaving the scene of an accident plus related charges. Police were waiting for blood test results that might lead to a DUI charge.

The incident occurred about 2:45 p.m. at Short Street and Broadway when a car almost hit some people who had been attending the parade, police said. The driver then swerved around the people, jumped the curb and hit a tree before backing up and driving away; police found the man moments later sitting in his car on the sidewalk on Second Street just off Broadway.

Napier was taken to the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital to be checked out after he complained of neck pain.

Jim Warren (859) 231-3255.