GREENFIELD — A 20-year-old remained in critical condition Tuesday after being struck by a car while crossing the street Monday night.
Shaine Shaffer was walking across New Road near the intersection of St. James Boulevard around 6:20 p.m. Monday when he accidentally stepped into oncoming traffic, police said.
Anthony Neumeister of Greenfield was westbound on New Road when Shaffer crossed into his path; investigators believe the victim, who lives nearby, was coming from or heading to Walmart.
Neumeister told officers at the scene he didn’t see Shaffer until it was too late to stop, police said. Witnesses said the young man appeared to have been watching for traffic on one side of the road but didn’t notice an oncoming car in the westbound lanes on New Road.
Neumeister stopped immediately after the accident; he was not suspected to be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol and submitted to a voluntary blood draw, police said.
“I don’t think he had any time to even react,” Police Chief Jeff Rasche said.
The speed limit is about 40 mph in the area; in the late afternoon around rush hour, cars often move a bit slower than the speed limit, police said. Neumeister was not speeding, Rasche said.
Shaffer was unconscious when first-responders arrived. He was airlifted to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, where he remained Tuesday afternoon. He suffered life-threatening injuries and was listed in critical but stable condition at press time Tuesday, Rasche said.
Investigators closed the road for several hours to take measurements in the area and reconstruct the accident.
No charges will be filed against the driver, Rasche said.
