Driver Struck Hammond Mayor McDermott’s Truck and Fled
On March 23rd, at approximately 4:48 PM, Hammond police responded to the area of Michigan and Indianapolis Boulevard in reference to a hit and run accident that had just occurred, according to Hammond Police Lt. Steve Kellogg.
The City of Hammond Mayor, Thomas McDermott Jr. was traveling on Michigan Street when a small vehicle approached his vehicle from behind nearly striking him from the rear. When the vehicle accelerated again, it sideswiped Mayor McDermott’s vehicle and fled southbound on Indianapolis Boulevard, Kellogg said. Mayor McDermott called in the hit and run accident while following the vehicle from a safe distance and a nearby police officer caught the vehicle as it pulled into a parking lot in the 6400 block of Michigan behind Smith Chevrolet.
The Mayor was not injured but said, “The damage to my car is slight and can be repaired but this could have been a kid, a pedestrian or family member. Fleeing at 90 mph she could have killed a family easily.”
The driver of the fleeing vehicle was identified as 24-year-old Kyra Ann George from Hammond. Ms. George was arrested and charged with failure of duty, leaving the scene of an accident.
