After a lengthy investigation into the crash that killed 19-year-old Natalie Nickchen on West Tennessee Street back in January, the state attorney's office has concluded that the driver who hit Nickchen will not be criminally charged.
Nickchen was attempting to cross West Tennessee Street via the crosswalk on January, 30 2020 when a driver, identified as 24-year-old Ivey Green, ran a red light and hit Nickchen.
Through an investigation, the state attorney's office determined that Green was traveling to work on a familiar route, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was not on her phone texting or talking at the time of the crash.
At the time of the crash, they say Nickchen was walking to class with headphones on and had her phone up in her line of sight.
"She possibly did not hear the honking of [witnesses] nor did she look at oncoming traffic before crossing the road. Tragically, it appears she took two steps before being hit," the state attorney's office wrote in their final memo released Monday.
Based on the witness statements, Green's statement as well as the point of impact, officials saoid evidence is consistent with Green's vehicle speed being between 35-40 mph.
"In order to be standing in the median of the crosswalk at the time the light turned green she would either have had to have remained standing in the median through a complete traffic light cycle or have crossed three (3) lanes while the crosswalk light was red."
They believe that Green may not have been able to see Nickchen when she ran the red light.
Based on the evidence, the state attorney's office has found insufficient evidence to charge Green with manslaughter or reckless driving.
Instead, Green was cited for Failure to Stop at a Steady Red Light; F.S. 322.34(1), Unknowingly Driving While License Suspended1; and F.S. 322.192(2), Failure to Change Address.
