October 12, 2010 – New Castle, IN – The accused driver involved in a fatal hit and run car accident that left a Greenfield police officer dead has pleaded not guilty to charges of leaving the scene of an accident causing death.
Indianapolis Channel 6 News reports that Sue Ann Vanderbeck, 61, struck and killed Officer Will Phillips, 32, as he was riding a bicycle during an officer training exercise. The fatal accident occurred on September 30 on U.S. 40 near the Henry-Hancock County line.
Vanderbeck left the scene immediately following the accident, leaving the injured Phillips behind. She turned herself in 5 days following the accident and has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. When asked about the incident she said she was distracted by her children, a 4-year-old autistic boy and 15-month-old twins.
Her statement to police was conflicted. Vanderbeck said in the statement that she wasn’t sure she had hit someone, couldn’t tell how many people were present, or whether the officer was riding a bike or motorcycle. She did add in her statement that she knew she had hit something. When asked about the incident in her court hearing on October 12, she pled not guilty to the charges.
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Hit and run accidents are a difficult type of personal injury to file because of the absence of the negligent party. In many cases, a victim and their family may only be able to seek compensation from their own insurance company.