The pedestrian who was hit and killed on U.S. 431 on Monday has been identified, and more details about the incident have been released.
Authorities identified the pedestrian as Jeremy Wingfield, age 41, of the 8800 block of U.S. 431.
At the time of the collision, which was around 12:06 a.m. Monday in the 8400 block of U.S. 431 near the intersection of Burns Road, Wingfield was walking southbound in the travel portion of the southbound lane and was struck by an SUV, according to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.
A few hours prior to that event, at approximately 8:30 p.m. Sunday, DCSO responded to a single-vehicle accident in the 7700 block of U.S. 431, authorities said. A minivan had lost control and struck a guardrail, leaving the vehicle disabled and blocking the northbound lane, according to DCSO.
DCSO said witnesses reported that Wingfield was the driver of the minivan and that he fled the area on foot prior to deputies arriving. Deputies searched for Wingfield but were unable to locate him. When checking his residence, deputies were advised that he had been driving the vehicle but had not yet returned home.
According to the release, deputies have determined that Wingfield most likely was hiding in a nearby field while emergency crews worked the accident scene and cleared the roadway, and that at the time of the fatal collision was walking to his home, which was approximately 1 mile away from where he allegedly wrecked the minivan.
According to DCSO, the vehicle that struck Wingfield sustained moderate damage, though the driver and passengers were not injured. The DCSO Accident Reconstruction Unit and the Daviess County Coroner’s Office responded to investigate.
