Two Kentucky Lawmakers Propose: Fatal Hit-and-Runs Could Be Charged as Vehicular Homicide
Two Republican Kentucky state lawmakers held a news conference on October 22 at City Hall in Louisville to announce a bill expanding the state's vehicular homicide statute, allowing prosecutors to charge drivers who hit and kill someone and flee the scene with vehicular homicide. Under current law, only drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be charged with vehicular homicide, a Class B felony carrying 10 to 20 years in prison, while fleeing the scene of a fatal crash is a Class D felony carrying one to five years.
State Representative Chris Lewis, who represents Highview, and State Representative Susan Witten, who represents Hurstbourne and other Jefferson County communities, said current law effectively rewards fleeing, because leaving the scene can help a driver avoid a heavier vehicular homicide charge. 'If you are involved in an accident and make the decision to flee the scene, regardless of whether or not you are impaired, this legislation will ensure that you can be charged with a felony and face 10 to 20 years in prison,' Lewis said.
The proposal stems from the death of 27-year-old Adam Troutman, who was walking along Vaughn Mill Road near Briscoe Lane in Louisville's Highview neighborhood around 11 p.m. on April 26 when a car struck him and fled. Louisville police arrested 30-year-old Aldwin Jackson in July and charged him with fleeing the scene, a Class A misdemeanor, and tampering with physical evidence, a Class D felony; a Jefferson County grand jury is expected to consider the case next month. Lewis said the bill will be filed before the regular session begins in January and will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on November 5. In the last session, Democratic Representative Rachel Roarx filed a nearly identical bill that did not pass out of committee.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 肯塔基州 Louisville 市天际线夜景（Ohio 河畔），作者 Charles Delano（美国陆军工程兵团 Louisville 区），CC BY 2.0，来源 Wikimedia Commons
