A deadly hit-and-run on Indianapolis' southeast side late Sunday has left neighbors rattled and police searching for a driver who took off instead of stopping. The victim, identified by authorities as 55-year-old Earl Cecil Scruggs, was rushed to a hospital after the crash and later died. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department crash investigators have opened a case and are working to track down the vehicle and driver involved.
What police say
Officers were called to a report of a person struck on East Raymond Street near the ramp from southbound I-65 at about 10 p.m. They found Scruggs injured at the scene, and he was transported to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries. Police say the driver did not stay at the scene and that IMPD crash investigators are handling the case, according to WRTV.
Dangerous stretch for people walking and biking
The East Raymond corridor and nearby streets have already drawn scrutiny after other collisions and fatalities, and local advocates say lane merges and fast-moving traffic make the stretch especially risky for people on foot and on bicycles. Cyclists and neighborhood residents have pressed for physical changes and traffic-calming measures after a string of deadly incidents in the area, as reported by WISH-TV. Neighbors say that reconfiguring lanes or adding calming infrastructure could cut down on dangerous passing and last-second merge maneuvers.
Legal consequences for leaving the scene
Under Indiana law, failing to stop after an accident that results in death can be charged as leaving the scene of an accident, an offense that may be prosecuted as a Level 5 felony with an advisory term and a sentencing range of roughly one to six years. Courts have noted that the statute focuses on a driver’s failure to stop rather than requiring proof that the driver knew at the moment of impact that a person had been struck, per FindLaw.
Investigation and next steps
IMPD is asking anyone who saw the crash or who may have dash-cam or doorbell video from the area to contact investigators so they can identify the vehicle and driver. The city's Department of Public Works has described a Fatal Crash Review Team that examines deadly collisions to determine whether roadway changes could help prevent future crashes, a process outlined in a prior WRTV report on southeast-side crashes. For now, police are continuing to seek witnesses and urging anyone with information to reach out to IMPD.
