A tragic incident in LaGrange County resulted in the death of a 7-year-old girl who was struck by an alleged impaired driver while she was attempting to cross the road on Monday afternoon. WISH-TV reports that the driver, identified as 26-year-old Eric Estrada of Ligonier, was believed to be under the influence of a controlled substance when his 2015 Mercedes-Benz collided with the young child, who was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
The LaGrange County Sheriff's Office further stated that the victim, along with another child, was trying to cross County Road 600 South when the incident occurred according to a release provided by the office and despite immediate efforts by first responders, the girl's life could not be saved and she was pronounced dead at the scene; as for Estrada, he remains in custody at LaGrange County Jail.
Estrada is currently facing charges with a preliminary offense of operating while intoxicated causing fatality. WSBT states that the collision happened just west of CR 100 West, providing more context to the location of this unfortunate event, and the ongoing investigation by the police has confirmed the presence of a controlled substance influencing Estrada's condition at the time of the accident.
The bond for Estrada has been set at $30,000 following the tragic collision that took the life of Alivia Miller, the 7-year-old victim, as confirmed by the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department; further legal proceedings are expected as the case progresses, authorities from the department have indicated as they continue to delve into the specifics surrounding the moments leading up to the impactful encounter that ended a young life too soon.
