Attorney struck in crosswalk, driver could be charged

A Greencastle attorney, attempting to cross Washington Street in a crosswalk on the south side of the Putnam County Courthouse, was struck by a car and knocked to the ground Friday, City Police reported.

As Trudy Selvia, 48, reportedly walked in front of a stopped eastbound 2014 Ford Fusion, driven by Donna Clark, 60, Greencastle, the car started forward, striking Selvia and knocking her to the ground, Greencastle Police Chief Tom Sutherlin reported.

The victim struck her elbow on the pavement and suffered neck pain but otherwise seemed uninjured and walked over to the courthouse steps to sit down, Sutherlin said.

The driver reportedly got out of her car and asked if Selvia was all right. But when the victim asked for the driver’s name, Clark reportedly got back in the car and left the scene, police said.

While Clark was not arrested, Sutherlin is submitting paperwork to the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office, seeking to charge Clark with leaving the scene of an accident.

Authorities tracked her down by the license plate number Selvia was able to obtain, finding the car at an East Washington Street residence.

“Once I found her, she was cooperative,” Chief Sutherlin said, noting that Clark admitted her car struck Selvia, saying she had rounded the courthouse, driving slowly and the next thing she knew she had struck an individual and knocked her down.

Clark also reportedly told Sutherlin she knew what she did was wrong and thought about going to the police station but decided to go home instead.

No ambulance was called but Selvia later went to the emergency room on her own, Sutherlin said, noting “everything checked out OK.”

According to Indiana statute, vehicles must yield the right of way to pedestrians within a crosswalk that are in the same half of the roadway as the vehicle or when a pedestrian is closely approaching.