On Wednesday, December 2, New Albany Police Department (NAPD) Officer Michelle Gilbert struck Tenille Splunge while she was crossing the street, leaving her with minor injuries. The on-duty officer was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox and turning from Elm Street onto State Street. Splunge was taken to the hospital.
The incident was reported by the N&T, NA Confidential, the C-J, WAVE3, and WHAS11.
“Our high-speed arterials are unsafe for walkers, if for no other reason than the culture of driver obliviousness they support on an everyday basis,” wrote Roger Baylor at NA Confidential. He noted how often motorists turning from parking lots or on red look only in the direction of oncoming vehicular traffic without glancing toward the crosswalk.
According to the N&T, an investigation handled by the Indiana State Police found the pedestrian had the right of way “based upon the pedestrian crosswalk sign.” NAPD Chief Todd Bailey said the department is treating the collision “as an accident.”
