Docs: Driver thought he hit someone before fleeing scene of hit-and-run that killed 11-year-old boy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The man arrested for his involvement in the hit-and-run that killed an 11-year-old boy on Dec. 11 acknowledged he thought he hit someone before fleeing the scene, according to court documents. His driving record shows that he should not have been behind the wheel in the first place.

Kyson Beatty was driving an 80cc Yamaha motorcycle southbound on South Tibbs Avenue when he collided with a Freightliner rollback tow truck driven by 52-year-old John Killough Jr., which was eastbound on Wicker Road. Beatty was pronounced dead and Killough fled the scene.

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The passenger in the truck told authorities he heard a thump and asked Killough what he was doing as he drove away. Killough said, “Aw f***, I think I hit somebody!” He told the passenger he couldn’t be caught driving the truck.

Killough has been declared a habitual traffic violator, according to court documents. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office couldn’t tell News 8 exactly why his license was suspended for life, but they say it might be connected to a 1999 case out of Hancock County. In 2004 and 2015, Killough was cited for driving after his license had been forfeited for life.

After the crash involving 11-year-old Beatty, Killough pulled off the road after leaving the scene and asked the passenger of the truck to give him a ride back to the shop. The passenger said he didn’t know about Beatty until the day after the crash happened.

Police released photos of the suspect vehicle that a business owner recognized as being part of his fleet. He reached out to police. Police say he couldn’t find truck and reached out to all of his employees to try to find it, but he couldn’t get ahold of Killough.

After police found Killough, he lead police to the truck where they discovered it had scuff marks on the driver’s front tire. Additionally, the lug-nut covers matched what was found at the scene of the crash.

Killough was arrested Saturday, a week after the crash, and is charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or catastrophic injury and operating a vehicle while a habitual traffic violator causing death.

News 8 reached out to the business that Killough worked for to ask if they knew about his driving history when letting him drive and operate their vehicles. They did not respond.