INDIANAPOLIS — A toddler was killed in a hit-and-run crash in a parking lot near the Clearwater Village Shopping Center on Indianapolis' north side, according to police.
The child was found critically injured when police responded about 7:30 p.m. to the 4600 block of East 82nd Street for a report of a crash with injury, according to a spokesperson for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
His mother, Lakiea Murry said her car overheated. She pulled over in this parking space near the shopping center's entrance, opened all of the car doors and popped the hood.
She says Jyrie got out and was dribbling his basketball. She never imagined someone would hit him and drive off.
"All of a sudden I didn't hear the ball bouncing anymore so I got out of the car," Murry said. "I said Jyrie, Jyrie then by the time I noticed he was lying on the ground. I had looked up and seen a white SUV and drove down to DSW."
The toddler was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after responders arrived.
The boy's father has identified him as Jyrie Mathews, 3.
"He was 3 and he had a whole life to live," Murry said. "Jyrie was going to be a hooper. He loved basketball," said Murry.
In an emailed update on Thursday, IMPD said detectives have interviewed the driver and weren't going to release additional details at this time.
"No additional information, including the identity of the driver, the type of vehicle involved, or where they were located, are being released at this time," the email read.
The case will be presented to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office for a charging decision, IMPD said.
Police urged anyone with more information — especially those who were in the area and may have witnessed the crash — to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 (TIPS).
-
Indiana fire officials demonstrate new mobile fire simulators
Fire officials on Wednesday said new training centers and simulators mean more Indiana firefighters will be able to get the latest training and techniques.
Police find fewer machine-gun conversion devices in criminals’ hands
Officials with the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force said they seized 14 of the devices, popularly called Glock switches, in the first six months of this year, fewer than they saw last year.
A quiet Wednesday, storms and heavy rain starting Thursday evening
Thursday starts off quiet before showers and storms move in late in the day. Partly cloudy skies remain. Isolated showers and storms stay down in southern Indiana. Low temperatures in the upper 60s.
New DCS director talks 'challenge' of implementing new child welfare laws
The Indiana Department of Child Services is implementing new laws that will require the state agency to be more transparent when a child dies from abuse or neglect.
