Indianapolis, IN (June 6, 2026) – A 50-year-old Indianapolis man in a wheelchair died Sunday night after a driver struck him at the intersection of East Raymond and Shelby streets on the near south side of Indianapolis and fled the scene, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
IMPD officers were called to the intersection around 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, 2026, to investigate a crash involving a pedestrian. Upon arrival, officers located a man in a wheelchair who appeared to have suffered serious injuries. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Earl Cecil Scruggs, 50.
IMPD indicated that the driver involved did not remain on scene. Witnesses told law enforcement that a driver in a white pickup struck the pedestrian and then fled westbound on Raymond Street. Police believe the pedestrian was in the median when the crash occurred.
Officers said that the search for the driver and vehicle is ongoing.
Fatal Hit-and-Run Accidents in Indianapolis, Indiana
Hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians are among the most serious cases handled under Indiana personal injury law. Here is what the family of Earl Cecil Scruggs should know:
Can the family pursue a claim even though the driver has not been found? Yes. Even when the at-fault driver has not been identified, a claim may still be available under the victim’s own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. If Mr. Scruggs had an auto insurance policy, or if a household family member did, that policy’s uninsured motorist provisions may apply. An attorney can evaluate the available coverage and advise the family on which sources of compensation to pursue.
What if the driver is eventually identified and caught? A civil wrongful death claim and any criminal prosecution run on separate tracks. The family does not need to wait for charges or an arrest before consulting an attorney or beginning the claims process. If the driver is later identified, the family’s legal options expand further.
What can a wrongful death claim cover in Indiana? Under Indiana Code IC 34-23-1-1, a wrongful death claim may include: medical expenses incurred before death, funeral and burial costs, lost income and financial support, and in some cases the loss of the victim’s love, care, and companionship. Every case is different.
What should the family do right now?
- Do not accept any early settlement offer from an insurance company without speaking to an attorney first.
- Preserve all evidence. If any family member has dashcam footage, photos, or witnessed the scene, preserve that material immediately.
- Report any witness information. If anyone saw the white pickup or the direction it fled, contact IMPD and also share that information with a personal injury attorney.
- Know your deadline. Wrongful death claims in Indiana must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (IC 34-23-1-1). This crash occurred on June 2026, the filing deadline is June, 2028. Acting early gives investigators and attorneys the best chance of building a strong case.
Contact Our Indianapolis Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys
At Langer & Langer, our Indianapolis injury attorneys have spent over 45 years helping Indiana families find a way forward after moments exactly like this one. Hit-and-run cases feel impossible at first. The driver is gone. The answers are not there yet. But there are real options available right now, including uninsured motorist coverage that may apply even before anyone is arrested, and we know how to pursue every one of them.
Call 219-245-5881 now because you have to pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.
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