I read the attached and it kinda seemed a microcosm of Bush’s War: 2 women are killed in bizarre accident
Mother, daughter fighting in street die after car strikes them; security guard injured.
RAYGAN SWAN RAYGAN.SWAN@INDYSTAR.COM
An early-morning street scuffle between an Eastside mother and daughter resulted in an accidental hit-and-run that left both women dead, a security guard injured and two men confessing to driving the car.
Now, Indianapolis police are scrambling to untangle what they describe as a bizarre “series of unfortunate events.”
The situation began, police say, about 12:40 a.m. Saturday when Jan Bailey, 49, and her daughter Torre Bailey, 30, were “rolling in the street,” exchanging blows outside of New Bridge Apartments, at the corner of 25th Street and Hillside Avenue.
Neighbors say the women, who both lived in the complex, were fighting over the younger woman’s ex-boyfriend. Neighbors said Torre Bailey’s young son and daughter were watching the brawl that, in moments, would turn deadly.
At that point, investigators say, 19-year-old Tommy Whitfield, Indianapolis, was traveling north on Hillside in a green 1997 Mercury Sable. He then turned west on 25th Street and drove straight into the altercation.
The Mercury, police say, hit and killed the women and injured security guard Alex Murdock, 22, who had been trying to break up the fight. Murdock was reported in good condition with a broken leg following surgery at Wishard Memorial Hospital.
After the impact, police said, Whitfield at first stopped the car, then backed up.
A second security guard, Donald Thurman, apparently feared the driver was coming for him and fired shots at the car with his handgun, police said.
Whitfield couldn’t understand why the guard was firing at him, panicked and fled the scene, police said.
He drove to the home of his mother and stepfather in the 2200 block of Hovey Street.
A short time later, Joseph Hatton, Whitfield’s stepfather, called police and told them he had been the driver of the hit-and-run car, even though police later said he had actually been at home all night drinking alone.
Going on the information they were given at the time, police arrested Hatton, 44, on preliminary charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and driving under the influence causing death, said Sgt. Steve Staletovich.
But a devastated Whitfield refused to let his stepfather take the fall, Staletovich said. He called investigators and offered a tearful confession to his role in the accident.
Police then withdrew the charges against Hatton — and said they don’t plan to charge Whitfield, either.
Inside Hatton’s home Saturday afternoon, Detective Jeff Patterson told Hatton’s wife, Jacqueline, 43, that her husband would be released and that her “son has no problems.”
Hatton broke into tears and began thanking God.
“Our prayers go out to the family,” she said. “This was just a horrible accident.”
Whitfield told his mother horrifying details about how he couldn’t stop in time to avoid the women.
“My poor son,” she said. “He couldn’t figure out how people got on the ground (in front of him). . . . He couldn’t believe he was rolling over people.”
When Whitfield learned the women had died, he wrote out a suicide note, Jacqueline Hatton said.
Staletovich said Marion County prosecutors will review the case today to see if either of the security guards will face charges.
Authorities also will try to unravel one further bit of mystery that came to light after the bodies of Jan and Torre Bailey arrived at the county morgue.
Jan Bailey had been shot in the head, they found, although the car’s impact was severe enough to kill her. Investigators say the gun carried by the injured security guard might have discharged when he was hit by the car.
Gwendolyn Matheny, a neighbor and close friend of Torre Bailey, said everyone in the apartment complex was shocked.
“My heart goes out to Torre’s two kids,” she said. “They saw the whole thing happen.”

Posted by: steve duncan | Aug 22 2005 19:44 utc | 2