Trucker Released After Questioning In Hit-And-Run That Killed 12-Year-Old Boy
WHITING, Ind. (CBS) -- Police have released a truck driver, after questioning him late into the night about a hit-and-run that killed a 12-year-old boy in Whiting, Ind., on Wednesday.
CBS 2's Chelsea Irving reports prosecutors were reviewing possible charges in the case, but no charges had been filed as of 6:30 a.m. Thursday.
Angel Villafuerte was struck and killed by a semi-trailer truck around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday as he tried to cross Indianapolis Boulevard near 119th Street, not far from his home in Whiting.
A witness told police the truck kept going north. Based on the description from the witness, police pulled over a truck on Calumet Avenue in Hammond, and questioned the driver late into the night.
That driver was released as of Thursday morning, but no charges had been filed.
Whiting police called in Indiana State Police to take charge of the investigation shortly after Angel was struck and killed.
Angel's mother said he and his older brother, Michael, were on their way home from school, and were about to cross Indianapolis Boulevard when Michael saw the truck coming.
"He [Angel] was gonna cross the street, and his brother told him to step back because there was a truck coming by really fast," his mother Araceli Villafuerte. "He says he stepped back, I guess to get back on the sidewalk, and instead of the guy slowing down, he kept going. Michael says before he knew it, I don't know, the wind took him. I don't know how fast the guy was going."
Paramedics arrived within minutes, but there was nothing they could do for Angel, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
"It's just shocking to think that somebody would hit a little kid and just take off," neighbor Cody Brusko said.
Police sent out a description of the truck, and within five minutes, curbed a truck matching that description in Hammond.
Indiana State Police said that driver was held for questioning for some time, but was no longer in custody Thursday morning. Prosecutors were reviewing possible charges.
Police also were reviewing surveillance video from the area, and questioning other truckers. Evidence technicians were examining the truck that was pulled over.
