Legislation is being proposed for the 2027 General Assembly that would address a driver’s responsibilities after a collision and allow for more serious criminal consequences in fatal hit-and-run crashes.
During a Thursday press conference in Louisville, State Rep. Chris Lewis, R-Louisville, was joined by others to discuss the measure.
According to Lewis, his bill draft would allow for more serious penalties when a person causes a death by leaving the scene without stopping and providing assistance, like the crash that claimed the life of Louisvillian Adam Troutman earlier this year.
Lewis said, “This is common sense. If you cause a fatal crash and then leave the scene without stopping to help or call for help, there should be serious consequences. Adam’s death is one of far too many cases where the person responsible failed to stop and render assistance. This bill is a straightforward step toward holding people accountable when their actions take a life and they callously walk away instead of doing the right thing.”
Lewis added that a driver who leaves the scene may deny a seriously injured person the opportunity to receive timely medical care. Fleeing also makes it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate the crash, determine whether impairment was involved, and hold the responsible person accountable.
According to a report by the Kentucky State Police, 27 people were killed and another 1,290 injured in hit-and-run collisions statewide in 2024 alone. In March of 2025, 35-year-old Steven Johnson was struck at Third Street and W. Main Street in downtown Louisville.
“Adam is one of far too many Kentuckians who have lost their lives in crashes where the driver left the scene,” Lewis added. “This is a persistent public safety concern here in Louisville and across Kentucky – we’re not just talking about damage to a car. These tragedies leave families grieving and raise serious questions about accountability, particularly when a driver leaves the scene without stopping to render aid or call for help. While no law can undo the loss of a loved one, Kentucky law should recognize the seriousness of these actions and ensure that those responsible face appropriate consequences.”
The 2027 General Assembly convenes on Jan. 5.
State Rep. Chris Lewis, R-Louisville, is drafting a bill that would increase penalties when a person causing death with a hit-and-run crash leaves the scene. (LRC photo)
