Two indicted in February hit-and-run that killed Scott County man

A Scott County grand jury indicted two 18-year-old men Friday in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that happened in February.

Benjamin W. Ross of Georgetown was indicted on charges of reckless homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. (Ross was 17 at the time of the offense but is being charged as an adult; he turned 18 on April 4.)

Matthew Taylor Putty of Georgetown was indicted on charges of leaving the scene of an accident and tampering with evidence.

The charges stem from a Feb. 19 hit-and run-accident on Sabin Drive in Scott County that killed 46-year-old Donald Savage.

On the day the two were arrested, Scott County Sheriff Tony Hampton said his office had received complaints about teens driving on four wheelers in the area where Savage was killed.

Hampton said Savage walked out into the roadway, presumably to confront the suspects, and was struck and killed in front of his home. Hampton said the suspects were allegedly in a silver GMC truck, but their testimonies about who drove the vehicle were inconsistent.

The indictment identifies Ross as the driver, says he was “driving recklessly,” and caused the death by striking Savage “with a motor vehicle.”

Furthermore, the indictment says Ross and Putty “failed to stop and ascertain the extent of injury” to Savage.

Reckless homicide is a felony punishable by one to five years in prison.

Putty is charged with tampering with evidence because he “unlawfully altered the truck used in the crime by removing decals, tailgate and the driver’s side headlight with the intent to impair its verity.”

Lt. Josh Hutchison with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office was the witness who testified before the grand jury.

This story was originally published June 9, 2017 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Two indicted in February hit-and-run that killed Scott County man."