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Woman arrested in deadly hit-and-run, thought she’d hit a deer

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — A 40-year-old woman charged in the fatal hit-and-run of a 41-year-old bicyclist told detectives she didn’t contact police because she thought she had hit a deer.

Alicia Hacker faces a charge of leaving the scene of an accident fatality, a level 5 felony, in the May 13 hit-and-run death of Michael Brooks on North Russell Road at State Road 45 East.

The sheriff’s office had asked people to watch for vehicles with recent damage and received information from several sources that a 2003 Pontiac Montana van owned by Hacker had. Deputies located her van in a parking lot where she works, according to the sheriff’s office. 

Detectives compared the damage to Brooks’ bicycle to the damage on Hacker’s van. The right edge of the front bumper of the van showed a perfect impression of a screw found on the bike, according to the sheriff’s office. There was also damage found on the right front fender. 

Hacker told detectives she believed she had hit a deer as she was driving home on State Road 45 East on May 13. She told detectives she knew of a fatal crash near where she was driving on the same night “but never put the facts together that she might have hit a person.” She said that was why she never talked to law enforcement.  

“The Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the response of a caring community, who responded to the request for assistance. We are confident the family of Michael Brooks is relieved to know there may be some resolution to his unfortunate passing,” the sheriff’s office said Monday. 

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