Anshul Sharma, pictured here with his wife, was struck and killed as the couple went for an evening walk. His wife remains in critical condition at an Indiana hospital.
Anshul Sharma, pictured here with his wife, was struck and killed as the couple went for an evening walk. His wife remains in critical condition at an Indiana hospital.
COLUMBUS, Ind. (Diya TV) — An Indiana man was intoxicated when he allegedly hit Anshul Sharma and his wife when the married couple were out for an evening walk, Sharma was killed in the accident and his wife remains in critical condition.
Michael Demaio, 30, is facing four felony charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in death, operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in injury, and failing to stop after an accident resulting in death and failing to stop after an accident resulting in injury, police said. He is being held without bail.
Sharma, 30, and his wife, Samira Bhardwaj, 28, both of Columbus, Ind., were struck as they walked in the bicycle lane, Columbus police said.
Police are still unsure of just how fast the minivan that struck the couple was traveling, but the speed limit of the street where they were hit is 35 miles per hour, Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman, said. It still was daylight when Demaio allegedly hit the couple and weather was not a factor, he said.
Sharma was pronounced dead at the scene, the Columbus coroner said the death should be classified as a homicide. The coroner said Sharma died from blunt force trauma to his head and upper cervical spine.
Members of the Indian Association of Columbus were shocked to hear developments of the incident. Krishna Rampalli, who has served as president of the association, said Sharma participated in many sports activities sponsored by the association, including volleyball.
Police are crediting an anonymous tipster for helping them identify Demaio as a suspect in the accident. The witness saw Sharma and his wife walking along the road and shortly after caught a glimpse of a red minivan with significant front-end damage driving recklessly in the area.
“He knew something wasn’t right and called it in,” Harris said of the witness. “Who knows how this could have turned out if he hadn’t made that call. We want to give kudos to that person. He gave us a great description of the vehicle.”
Police ultimately located the vehicle just a few minutes east of the accident scene.
