INDIANAPOLIS — Two people have been charged for a crash that killed a 7-year-old girl and seriously injured two others in September at a school crosswalk in Irvington.
Hannah Crutchfield died and her mother and a crossing guard were hurt in the crash that happened as the girl left George W. Julian School 57 around 4 p.m. Sept. 14.
“The senseless death of Hannah Crutchfield serves as a severe reminder that reckless driving has tragic and fatal consequences,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement. “I offer my condolences to the loved ones of Miss Crutchfield and wish those well who are still recovering.”
The crash is believed to have been the result of road rage between Torrell King and a juvenile, according to court documents.
King is charged with reckless homicide and three counts of criminal recklessness, all felonies, Mears said.
A 17-year-old girl is also charged with felony counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury and five counts of criminal recklessness.
She is also charged with misdemeanors of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing endangerment and operating a vehicle having never received a license.
Prosecutors have filed a request for a waiver to charge the 17-year-old as an adult.
According to court documents, the incident began when the 17-year-old allegedly cut off King and forced him into the median in the 5800 block of East Washington Street.
King then pulled his black 2017 Toyota Camry in front of the 17-year-old’s white 2004 Pontiac Grand Am and confronted her about what happened. Investigators say she pulled around King’s vehicle and continued westbound on East Washington Street.
King pursued her and sped up to catch her, according to court documents. As they approached Ritter Avenue, the traffic signal for westbound Washington Street changed to red and a school crossing guard walked out into the street with a handheld stop sign.
King caught up to the 17-year-old and got directly behind her, the documents said. A woman driving a red 2017 Nissan Sentra was stopped for a red light in the left westbound lane on Washington Street. The 17-year-old swerved around her vehicle and ran the red light at Ritter, while King rear-ended the Sentra, investigators said.
The 17-year-old swerved to the left and struck a woman driving a white 2010 Mercury Mariner southbound on Ritter Avenue. The collision caused the Mariner to strike the crossing guard, Michael Sykes, who was thrown through the air and landed on the sidewalk on the south side of the street.
The Mariner continued and struck Hannah Crutchfield and her mother, Cassandra Crutchfield, who became trapped under the vehicle.
A witness said King got out of his car after the crash and approached the 17-year-old’s car saying, “That’s what you get!” The witness said neither King nor the 17-year-old checked on the victims, “but instead continued to argue.”
Hannah Crutchfield died at Riley Hospital for Children, while her mother suffered severe injuries and was transported to Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition. Sykes received treatment at St. Vincent Hospital for injuries to his lower legs and left side.
The 17-year-old underwent a blood draw which showed evidence of marijuana use. Investigators checked Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles records, which indicated she never received a valid driver's license.
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