» READ MORE: Local teacher arrested in death of pedestrian in hit and run crash
Indicted after more than a year
Baggs, a teacher at Kenton Ridge High School, was arrested on Monday and booked into the Clark County Jail about 5 p.m. The arrest is in connection with the death of Lawrence J. Mason, 45, who was struck and killed while he was standing on the shoulder of North Tecumseh Road in Bethel Twp. in September 2016. She has been charged with failure to stop after an accident, tampering with evidence and two counts of vehicular manslaughter, according to the Clark County Common Pleas Court website.
Vehicle in the crash
Troopers released a report soon after the crash identifying the vehicle that struck Mason as a 2015 Dodge Durango that was registered to an Eliot J. Baggs of Springfield. The report said the vehicle was traveling north on North Tecumseh Road at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, and allegedly struck Mason. The SUV then allegedly left the scene, according to the report. Troopers gathered evidence, including a passenger-side mirror, that allegedly linked the vehicle to the crash, according to the report. A message left for the Baggs wasn’t returned on Tuesday.
Victim’s family seeking damages
Jordyn N. Mason, the daughter of the crash victim and the director of his estate, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Baggs in the Clark County Common Pleas Court on Aug. 11.
The lawsuit alleges Eliot and/or Kristine Baggs, “fled the scene of the accident without checking on (Lawrence Mason’s) welfare and/or notifying authorities until two days later; and even then have failed to be forthcoming with information and/or cooperate with the investigation of this incident.” It seeks medical and burial costs, and other damages, in excess of $25,000.
Not suspended from Northeastern
Baggs is listed as a teacher in family and consumer science at Kenton Ridge High School. She made $52,788 in 2016, according to the Springfield News-Sun Payroll Project.
She hasn’t been suspended or put on leave from the school district, Superintendent John Kronour said.
“Not yet but I anticipate that might be forthcoming,” he said.
Kronour said he cannot comment further on the situation until he has more information and speaks with Kristine Baggs.
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