March 19, 2010

Driver who hit Hillcrest High student is cited for driving too fast

by Paula Morehouse, KY3 News

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Story Published: Dec 2, 2009 at 12:17 AM CDT

Story Updated: Dec 2, 2009 at 12:17 AM CDT

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Raw: Kimmy Armstrong's dad talks about her recovery from being hit by car
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SPRINGFIELD -- A man whose car hit and seriously injured a Hillcrest High School student on Sept. 22 was cited on Tuesday for careless and imprudent driving. A Springfield Police Department accident reconstructionist said Scott Harper was driving 55mph on Kearney Street when he hit Kimberly Armstrong in a crosswalk at Broadway Avenue at 6:19 a.m. Officer James Hinkle said Harper would have been able to stop before he hit Kimberly, or Kimberly would have been able to make it across the street in time, if Harper had been going the speed limit of 40mph.

Kimberly spent weeks in a hospital and is still undergoing physical therapy to recover from her injuries. She's being home-schooled but hopes to return to school for her senior year next year.

Kimberly's father (shown in photo with Kimberly) and Harper recently talked to the Springfield School Board about revising its transportation policy to try to protect students who have to cross busy streets to get to school.

In a probable cause statement used as the basis of the charge, Hinkle wrote that Kimberly, who was hit a week before her 16th birthday, was 80 percent of the way across the street when Harper's car hit her. The crosswalk signal said "Do not walk" at the time of the collision but Hinkle doesn't know if it said that when Kimberly started to cross Kearney.

Westbound drivers on Kearney crest a hill just before reaching Broadway. They can see the traffic signals before the hill but can't see the crosswalk.

"It is my opinion that this crash is the result of inattention and excessive speed of Mr. Harper. If Mr. Harper had seen Ms. Armstrong in the crosswalk when he crested the hill, he would have had time to react to either avoid the accident or reduce his speed substantially. Had he been going the speed limit, this collision would have been avoided entirely," Hinkle said.

If Harper is convicted of the misdemeanor, he faces up to a year in the county jail or a fine up to $1,000. Prosecutors recommended to a judge that he be required to post a $1,000 bond. His first appearance in court is scheduled for Dec. 31.

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