Hit and Run in America & Vehicular Murder

Hit and Run Laws in USA:
In Texas, the crime is a third degree felony if the accident involves a fatality or serious bodily injury. Accidents causing less serious injuries are punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for not more than five years or confinement in the county jail for not more than one year and/or a fine not to exceed $5,000. Accidents causing $200 or more in total damages without injuries are punishable by a class B misdemeanor, and accidents causing less than $200 in total damages are a class C misdemeanor.

Murder charge filed in hit and run that killed child

Posted by: John Shryock

CONECUH CO., AL (WSFA) - A murder charge has been filed against a man whom authorities say slammed a truck into the back of a car carrying children. The man then stole another truck before fleeing the scene.

Authorities arrested Calvin Fluker, Jr., 61, whom they say crashed his pickup truck into the back of the 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix that was carrying mother Kim Kirksey, 32, and her children Kortlann, 7, and Dawson, 10 as they traveled to Sparta Academy.

Dawson Kirksey, who was sitting in the backseat of the car, was fatally injured in the crash. His mom and sister were transported with unknown injuries to a hospital in Pensacola, Florida.

Kirkland's Pontiac was stopped in the roadway on Brooklyn Road (Conecuh County Road 42) at the direction of a paving crew flagman. It was at that point that Fluker's Dodge Ram slammed into the rear of her car.

A flagman said immediately after the crash that Fluker physically assaulted him and stole his work truck. The suspect then fled the scene.

The Evergreen Police Department caught Fluker about a mile and a half from the scene on County Road 42. He was taken to Evergreen Medical Center to be checked out after he crashed the second vehicle.

At just before 4:00pm Alabama State Troopers served Fluker with a warrant charging him with murder. The suspect is being held at the Conecuh County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Officers said other charges may be filed pending further investigation.

Wayne Hammonds, Headmaster at Sparta Academy, confirmed Dawson Kirksey was in the 5th grade, while Kortlann is in the 1st grade. Sparta Academy brought in councilors and ministers Monday to assist in the process of grief counseling.

Hammonds said memorial services were not immediately known.