Meridian police thanked local media outlets for helping them identify the suspect in a hit-and-run car vs. motorcycle crash Tuesday morning that left the motorcyclist with a broken collarbone.

Jason T. Smith is being held in the Ada County Jail on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident. He is accused of driving an Ada County’s Weed, Pest and Mosquito Abatement Department truck at the time of the crash.

Meridian police say the 35-year-old Smith was driving a white pickup truck on Overland Road, just west of Eagle Road, around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday when he made an illegal u-turn and collided with a 53-year-old male motorcyclist. Police say Smith drove away without stopping.

The motorcyclist suffered a broken collarbone, cuts and bruises. Meridian Police asked for public help in finding the driver of the truck Tuesday afternoon and released a description of the truck that led to Smith’s arrest Wednesday.

Managers at the Ada County agency that Smith had been doing work for noticed significant damage to one of their trucks and notified police that it may have been involved in the crash. Smith was a temporary worker for the Ada County’s Weed, Pest and Mosquito Abatement Department. He was hired through a staffing agency A.E.S. to do seasonal work, according to a news release from the county Wednesday afternoon.

"Managers confirmed the temporary staffer (Smith) parked the county vehicle at the end of his shift yesterday without reporting the damage to anyone in the department," the news release said. Because Smith is not an Ada County employee, the staffing agency's insurance carrier is responsible for all damages caused by their employees while on the job, the county says.

After receiving the tip about the damaged truck, Meridian Police found and interviewed Smith, then arrested him Wednesday afternoon. He will make his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon.

The felony crime of leaving the scene of an accident is punishable by up to five years in prison.