A routine scooter ride through downtown Indianapolis turned tragic when a woman was struck and killed in a hit-and-run, according to police. The adult rider was in a marked crosswalk at East Maryland Street and South Pennsylvania Street when a vehicle hit her. Emergency crews rushed her to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where she later died from her injuries.
IMPD Investigating, Witnesses Urged To Come Forward
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says officers were already in the area when they heard a loud crash at the intersection. When they arrived, they found the woman down in the crosswalk, and the vehicle that hit her was gone. Detectives have opened an active investigation and are reviewing nearby camera footage and speaking with potential witnesses. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Adam Jones at 317-327-6549 or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS, as reported by FOX59.
Downtown Crash Hot Spots And Ongoing Safety Efforts
Downtown intersections account for a disproportionate share of fatal and serious crashes, and regional planners use that pattern to help determine where safety fixes should go first. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization’s annual safety report and crash dashboard track fatal and incapacitating crashes and highlight corridors that receive targeted engineering and enforcement efforts. Those data-driven strategies, including signal timing changes, protected crossings, and roadway redesigns, are among the tools local officials cite when they talk about reducing pedestrian risk, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization.
What Indiana Law Says About Deadly Hit-And-Runs
Under Indiana law, a driver who fails to stop after a crash that results in death can face a Level 4 felony charge. The statute spells out drivers’ responsibilities at a crash scene and increases penalties when a collision causes death or catastrophic injury. The code also details when leaving the scene rises to a felony and when additional enhancements can apply. If investigators are able to recover identifying evidence or video that points to a suspect vehicle, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office would determine potential charges in consultation with IMPD.
