Witness: Officer speeding without siren

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A Beech Grove woman is dead after being struck by an IMPD officer's squad car on the south side Wednesday night.

The Officer Erin Ringham, 23, was the backup officer responding to a call of a home break-in nearby.

Police said the one year veteran was driving south on Keystone Avenue and crossed Raymond Street without her lights and siren on. That's when she hit 20-year-old Amber Raines who was walking across the street. Raines was later pronounced dead at Methodist Hospital.

A witness to the crash said he believes Officer Ringham was speeding.

"It was bad because I felt the cop was driving pretty erratic with out her lights on. I couldn't believe she was going that fast because it scared me when she come by me," said Josh Eaton, a witness.

"If this officer operated in due regard, did they follow the best guidelines that we gave them. That's a concern for us as well and I think the fact team and all the investigators behind that are asking those same questions," said Christopher Wilburn, IMPD.

Officers are expected to obey the speed limit if their emergency lights and siren are not on. Investigators will now try to figure out if Officer Ringham was exceeding the speed limit.

She's been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.