ELKHART COUNTY — One man received an unwelcome surprise when he tried to help the driver of an overturned car off of S.R. 15, north of U.S. 20, Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, an unidentified man was driving south on S.R. 15 when his car went off the west side of the road and rolled down a hill.

People in two vehicles witnessed the accident. One of the witnesses, William Edick, noted the vehicle was smoking. Edick and Mark DeWitt, who also witnessed the crash, went to help the driver from the vehicle.

After the driver was clear of the car, DeWitt says the driver inexplicably punched him in the mouth and tried to stagger away before falling over.

DeWitt suffered a cut lip and was treated by Jefferson Township emergency personnel.

Off-duty police officers helped to subdue the driver until the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the scene.

The driver, who was uninjured in the crash, was then arrested at the scene on a preliminary charge of battery.