Taylor County grand jury indicts woman for January hit-and-run

A Taylor County grand jury indicted an Abilene woman Thursday in connection to a fatal hit-and-run in January.

A court document states Wanda Rani Hebert allegedly left the scene in the 3200 block of South Treadaway Boulevard on Jan. 31 after a vehicle-pedestrian collision police believe resulted in the death of Calvin Eugene Roberts III.

Officers were called to the scene around 6 a.m. Police found that Roberts "appeared to have been struck by a vehicle," police said in a court document. Based on injuries, it appeared Roberts died on impact.

Detectives reviewed surveillance video from surrounding businesses. One video showed a pedestrian lying in the middle of the roadway, the document said.

More:Abilene police arrest woman in connection with fatal hit-and-run

A short time later, a vehicle traveling south on the inside lane of Treadaway "appeared to run over the pedestrian," the document said.

According to the document, the driver in the video "stopped and then turned around to face the pedestrian in the road," then drove into a nearby parking lot.

After a few minutes, the driver left the lot and continued south on Treadaway.

Based on debris left the scene, surveillance video and 911 calls, Hebert was identified as a suspect, police said. 

Police also solicited the public's help, according to a Feb. 2 news story.

Hebert's vehicle matched debris found at the scene and reportedly had "blood and tissue on the undercarriage," the document said.

In a 911 call placed shortly after the incident, Hebert reportedly told dispatchers that she saw someone lying in the road and had "asked police to check on him," the document said.

In her interview, "Hebert continued to deny striking anyone," the document said. She told police she had stopped, turned around to shine her headlights on the person, then drove to work.

She acknowledged her vehicle had been damaged, but stated she "didn't realize she hit anyone," police said.

Hebert was charged with second-degree felony accident involving death and booked into the Taylor County Jail on Feb. 1. She was released the next day on a $5,000 bond, according to court records.

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Brian Bethel covers city and county government and general news for the Abilene Reporter-News.  If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.