A local incident has significantly jarred the Richmond community after a fatal crash occurred on Saturday evening. According to FOX59, the Richmond Police Department responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Sim Hodgkin Parkway and Bridge Avenue. They discovered a blue Honda Civic that had sustained significant damage.
The vehicle’s passenger, 48-year-old Christopher Kennedy, was trapped and had to be extricated by the Richmond Fire Department. Despite promptly being transported to Reid Health, he later died from his injuries. The driver, identified to be 27-year-old Billy Goodwin, allegedly chose to quickly flee the scene on foot after the crash, an action that now anchors the charges filed against him. The Richmond Police Department, in a statement obtained by Facebook, remarked this as "a heartbreaking outcome for the Kennedy family."
Goodwin has been charged with false informing and resisting law enforcement, both misdemeanors, and with leaving the scene of a fatal crash, a Level 5 felony. These preliminary charges were detailed in a subsequent report by 13News, which has a policy of not naming suspects until formal charges have been filed.
RPD Chief Kyle Weatherly shared his sentiments, stating, "When someone chooses to flee instead of help, there must be accountability. Our department is committed to making sure that happens." The Richmond Police further emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and encouraged anyone with information to come forward. The support from various local departments, such as Wayne County Emergency Communications and the Indiana State Police, was also acknowledged in their efforts to deal with the aftermath of this tragic event.
