A Leitchfield man has been arrested after fatally striking a child on Hwy 259 in Breckinridge County and fleeing the scene.
Saturday morning at approximately 11:30, Kentucky State Police received a request from the Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office investigating an incident in the 12000 block of Hwy 259.
Kentucky State Police spokesman Scotty Sharp said a 2009 Pontiac Torrent, being driven by 35-year-old Bradley D. Mattingly, had been traveling north on Hwy 259 when the Pontiac struck an eight-year-old child who was standing on the side of the road as he got mail out of a mailbox. The child was pronounced dead at the scene by the Breckinridge County Coroner’s Office.
After fatally striking the child, Sharp said Mattingly fled the scene but was quickly spotted by Trooper Brandon Brooks on Lilac Road, near the Breckinridge/Grayson county line, as Brooks was en route to the accident scene.
Brooks executed a traffic stop on the vehicle and arrested Mattingly, charging him with reckless homicide and leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid. Mattingly was lodged in the Breckinridge County Detention Center.
State police was assisted at the scene by the Breckinridge Sheriff’s Office and Grayson County Sheriff’s Office.
The accident remains under investigation by Brooks, who also serves as a KSP accident reconstructionist.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
