Man facing reckless homicide charge after man struck by vehicle, dies

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (KBSI) – A man faces a reckless homicide charge after police say a man died after he was struck by a vehicle.

Robert A Lewis, 45, faces a preliminary charge of reckless homicide.

Mt. Vernon police officers, Mt. Vernon firefighters and Litton’s Ambulance Service personnel responded to an alley south of the 2800 block of Veterans Memorial Drive for a report of a person struck by a motor vehicle on Tuesday, March 5 at 4:32 p.m.

Officers found a 62-year-old man injured in the alleyway.

Police say the driver of the vehicle and vehicle had left the scene.

Medical personnel and officers began treating the man. He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Mt. Vernon Police detectives, a Mt. Vernon Police Department Crime Scene technician and an accident reconstruction team from the Illinois State Police were called in to investigate.

Police say Lewis, the driver of the truck arrived at the Mt. Vernon Police Department a short time after the crash and was driving the truck.

Preliminary indications from the investigation indicate the 62-year-old man was working on a vehicle in the alleyway when Lewis drove through.

Police say there was a verbal disagreement between the two resulting in both people causing damage to the other person’s vehicle.

As Lewis was leaving the scene his truck crashed with the 62-year-old man, according to police.

Mt. Vernon Police detectives worke with the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Detectives obtained a search warrant to secure blood and urine from Lewis. The collected specimens will be sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for analysis.

Lewis was taken to the Jefferson County Justice Center.

Police say charges may change as the investigation continues and the analysis of evidence reports return.