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Thursday, March 28
The Indiana Daily Student

Man arrested in fatal hit-and-run accident

An arrest was made Tuesday evening following a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed a motorcyclist.

Bloomington police arrested Steven Finch, 27, of Bloomington, after he admitted his involvement in the incident.

Finch was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a Class C felony, according to a press release issued by Bloomington Police Department Capt. Joe Qualters.

Finch admitted being distracted by an electronic device and realized a man on a motorcycle traveling the same direction in front of him. Finch’s vehicle and the motorcycle were traveling east on Moores Pike near the intersection of Olcott Boulevard.

Finch was unable to avoid the motorcyclist, later identified as Johnny Shane Harden, 37, of Bloomington. Finch struck the 2007 Suzuki GXS on the passenger side of his 1998 Pontiac Sunfire, according to the release.

The accident occurred at about 7:52 a.m. Tuesday.

Finch initially stopped his vehicle after the collision and attempted to reverse his car closer to the scene of the accident. Upon doing so, Finch backed over and dragged the body lying in the street.

After the body was detached from underneath the vehicle, Finch made a U-turn and fled the scene heading west on Moores Pike, according to the release.

Following Finch leaving the scene of the accident, police said he made a stop at a convenience store in Ellettsville, Ind., purchased tobacco and proceeded to a car wash to remove evidence of involvement in the crash.

Finch drove to his parents’ residence.

Finch turned himself in and was questioned by BPD, where he was later transported to the Monroe County Jail.

State law requires all persons involved in an accident that yields fatal or serious bodily injury to submit to a blood test. The test will determine whether or not Finch was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident.

The cause of death has yet to be determined pending autopsy results Wednesday morning, according to the Monroe County Coroner’s office.

The autopsy is being conducted in Terre Haute, Ind.

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