Fort Wayne driver accused of hitandrun faces charges months later
Dec 18, 2024
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Months after a hit-and-run that seriously injured an elderly woman, the alleged driver has been charged.
Trinity Whitehead, 24, faces two counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing moderate injury.
Around noon on March 4, Whitehead is accused of hitting two pedestrians with his car in the crosswalk at the intersection of Lake Avenue and Loree Street, east of downtown.
A man had "numerous contusions and complaint of pain," according to Allen Superior Court documents, but the reported injuries weren't as serious as the woman with him. She had to go to the hospital and eventually had surgery on her right leg for fractures and a dislocated knee.
Whitehead allegedly got out of his car to check on the victims but still drove off, according to court documents.
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A week later, Whitehead agreed to come to the police station for an interview "to clear his name in the incident because he stated he was nowhere near that crash and anyone could have been driving his car that day," he said in court documents.
But he didn't show up to speak with officers, according to court documents. He eventually admitted during a phone call that he was on probation but claimed he "never left home" that day, saying in court documents, "If you can prove it then charge me."
The Fort Wayne Police Department pulled cell phone records that showed he was near the scene at the time of the crash.
Infraction citations were also tacked on for driving with a suspended license and operating without financial responsibility.