In a recent turn of events, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office has dropped charges against Dionte Taylor, 26, the driver accused of dragging Ellie Bentley under his car for three blocks in The Grove neighborhood. The incident, which occurred on February 25, 2024, left Bentley with severe injuries, as reported by KSDK News. Bentley, hailing from the United Kingdom, was attempting to take cover from nearby gunfire when she was caught by the vehicle and dragged, resulting in a brain injury, broken pelvis, two broken legs, and a mangled ear.
The extent of Bentley's injuries was highlighted in her own words, where she recalled being caught between the car's undercarriage and the ground, ultimately dislodging in front of the Platypus bar. "My right arm pretty much got rubbed off across the street," Bentley said on KSDK, and described severe arterial damage which necessitated eight blood transfusions, as FOX 2 noted from her statements. Bentley's GoFundMe page detailed the substantial recovery she has made, regaining function in her legs and lower body, albeit with irreversible nerve damage to her right hand.
Prosecutors have faced challenges in presenting the necessary evidence to prove that Taylor knowingly fled after the accident. Christine Bertelson, a spokesperson for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office, expressed in a statement obtained by KSDK News that evidence of driver intent is essential in determining criminal liability in such cases. "Our office does not comment on the basis for decisions to file nolle prosequi. However, these decisions always reflect information gathered during the continuing investigation that occurs after initial charging decisions are made," Bertelson said on FOX 2.
Despite the dropped charges, the ordeal remains a life-altering one for Bentley. Facing $1 million in medical expenses, not entirely covered by the driver’s car insurance, her struggle for recovery continues. The Circuit Attorney's Office has stated that they are open to reconsidering the case should any new evidence emerge, as per the statement given to First Alert 4. Ben Tobin, Bentley's attorney, has yet to respond to these recent developments.
