Lawmaker's Vehicle Taken In Probe Of Fatal Hit-And-Run

NEW CASTLE, Ind. -- Police investigators impounded a vehicle belonging to state Rep. Tom Saunders in their investigation of a fatal hit-and-run.

Thomas M. Jackman, 56, of New Castle, died after being struck by a vehicle late Friday or early Saturday, police said. Jackman suffered head and other injuries when he was hit and died Saturday evening at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Saunders, R-Lewisville, told The Courier-Times that a vehicle registered to him had been confiscated by investigators but said that he was not involved in the crash.

In a statement released to the news media Wednesday, Saunders said he and his family began efforts to contact authorities after learning "that a Saunders family vehicle may have been involved in an accident."

"As soon as we met with a local officer, we voluntarily turned over the vehicle," Saunders said in the statement. "An investigation is now under way and we anticipate meeting again with local authorities, as we would like all aspects of this accident to be understood."

Legislative hearings were being held on Wednesday, but Saunders was not present at the Statehouse in Indianapolis.

Jackman was struck as he was walking near the entrance to a supermarket in the city about 40 miles west of Indianapolis, police said. A passer-by found him and called police.

"Our focus of the investigation is to get the responsible person involved into custody and find out what actually happened that morning," New Castle Police Chief Jim Nicholson said. "We want to see that the right person is charged."

Saunders was first elected to the Indiana House in 1996 and previously was the Henry County assessor for 16 years. His district covers parts of Henry, Randolph and Wayne counties in eastern Indiana.

In his statement, Saunders said his prayers and sympathy go out to the Jackman family.

"Our prayers and our most heartfelt sympathy go out to the Jackman family for the loss they have suffered," the statement said. "This is truly a tragedy and a very painful time for both the Jackman and the Saunders families."