Hit-and-run suspect's last plea meeting set for October

The man accused of fleeing the scene of an accident that killed IU student Ashley Crouse April 11 will have one final chance Oct. 11 to accept a plea deal from the prosecution. \nThe pre-trial conference for Meliton Praxidis was postponed Thursday to a date exactly six months after the incident occurred. If the defense does not accept the State's offer, the case will move to a jury trial.\nU.S. Marshals arrested Praxidis April 15 in New Castle County, Del., on class C felony charges for fleeing the scene of a vehicular accident four days after the crash. \nBecause the suspect did not possess a valid driver's license or form of identification, it took U.S. Marshals several days to locate Praxidis, as he assumed multiple aliases. Police reports in both Monroe County and New Castle County had identified the defendant as "Meliton Praxidis," "Meliton Espinoza," "Meliton Espinoza Praxidis" and "Alberto DeJesus." \nAfter obtaining an IU Police Department eyewitness sketch, the New Castle Police Department used a photograph to identify the suspect. \nPraxidis could now face two to eight years in prison. \nAccording to police, Crouse, her boyfriend, student Christopher Carlson, and student Julie Greenbaum entered the intersection of Hawthorne and Third streets the night of April 11 when a gray Honda station wagon allegedly driven by Praxidis struck their red Jeep. Both vehicles skidded into the front lawn of the Kappa Kappa Gamma house, of which Crouse was a member. \nAt the time of the accident, the Jeep had a flashing red traffic light at the intersection, while the station wagon received a yellow flashing light.\nPraxidis' roommates claimed he drank "a lot of beer" prior to leaving in the station wagon, according to the probable cause affidavit. IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger could not confirm their statements because Praxidis fled on foot before police could apprehend him with a Breathalyzer test. \nOn impact, according to police reports, Crouse, who was seated in the rear of the Jeep, was launched five feet from the vehicle. Police said she was the only passenger not strapped with a safety belt. \nCrouse was pronounced dead at 12:09 a.m. April 12 at Bloomington Hospital. Doctors treated and released Carlson and Greenbaum that day.