Family of Indy pedestrian struck and killed want justice and sidewalks
As the family of Roy Hodges Jr. mourns his loss they are also fighting for justice and pleading for the city to add sidewalks to its main roads.
Within a month, 10 kids were struck by vehicles while walking or riding their bikes and one organization wants to bring awareness to drivers ahead of summer when more children will be outside.
The group Safe Streets Indy gets its data primarily through the IEMS dispatch system over the air in real-time. They receive and process messages and audio from the Metropolitan Emergency Management Services Agency for the county’s trunked radio system.
Between Feb. 26 to March 26, 2025, they collected data on 10 juveniles who were struck across Indianapolis and Lawrence.
According to Safe Streets Indy, four victims were riding bikes when they were struck, and EMS classified four of the crashes as causing serious bodily injury. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police confirms their officers were on runs for 9 out of the 10 incidents. One case was handled by Lawrence Police.
IMPD told IndyStar there have been two arrests made in their cases and one is still being investigated. All other cases were situations where drivers stayed on scene, cooperated with police, and didn’t show signs of impairment, which resulted in no law enforcement action being taken.
A 12-year-old boy struck in the South Perry Neighborhood
March 26: At 12:38 p.m. police were called to the 2500 block of Appleton Drive near Siear Terrance at the Berkley Commons apartment complex for a serious bodily injury report.
A 14-year-old boy struck in the Eagledale neighborhood
March 22: At 2 p.m., police were called to a home in the 2900 block of West 16th Street on the report of a hit-and-run crash that caused serious bodily injury. A police report lists a woman as a suspect and IMPD confirmed with IndyStar that the driver was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident.
An 8-year-old struck while on a bike in the Mars Hills neighborhood
March 19: At 6:37 p.m., police were called to a home in the 5300 block of Gambel Road on the report of a pedestrian struck.
A 7-year-old boy struck while on a bike on Van Buren Court
March 18: At 3:34 p.m., police were called to the 1900 block of Van Buren Court at the Grandville Cooperative apartment complex on a serious bodily injury report.
A 7-year-old boy struck in the Eagledale neighborhood
March 13: At 8:24 p.m., police were called to the 3300 block of Watergate Road at the Stratford Apartment complex on the report of a pedestrian struck.
A 9-year-old boy struck while riding bike in East Warren neighborhood
March 13: At 5:20, police were called to a neighborhood stop at Shenandoah Drive and Galeston Drive for the report of a crash involving the serious bodily injury of a juvenile. A man was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering another person.
A 13-year-old boy struck while on bike in Galludet neighborhood
March 12: At 8:41 p.m., police were called to the 5500 block of South Franklin Road near railroad tracks on the report of a pedestrian struck.
A 2-year-old girl struck in Lawrence
March 2: At 5:53 p.m., Lawrence Police were called to the parking lot in the 10000 block of Pendleton Pike near a Dollar Tree and furniture store inside a plaza. According to Safe Streets Indy data, she was hit in the parking lot and only suffered minor injuries.
A 14-year-old girl struck in hit-and-run in Meadows neigborhood
February 27: At 8:36 a.m., police were called to the intersection of East 38th Street and North Tacoma Avenue on the report of a hit-and-run. According to Safe Streets Indy data, she had just gotten off a bus before she was hit. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police told IndyStar the ongoing case is still being investigated.
Anyone with information is asked to call IMPD Crash Investigations at (317) 327-6549 or Crime Stoppers. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477, by downloading the mobile P3tips app or visiting CrimeTips.org.
A 16-year-old struck on a bike in west Indianapolis
February 26: At 10:08 p.m., police were called to the intersection of South White River Parkway Drive West and Kentucky Avenue on the report of a personal injury crash.
Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
发表回复