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Warrant issued for suspect in deadly pedestrian hit-and-run on Indy's south side

The man allegedly told police he was driving to pick up his kids when a person "appeared" in front of his car.

INDIANAPOLIS — A warrant has been issued for the driver who allegedly killed a pedestrian on Aug. 9 in a hit-and-run crash on the south side of Indianapolis.

Zo Thuama, of Indianapolis, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing death. 

He's accused of hitting and killing 28-year-old Jeanclaude Lubunga on Stop 11 Road, near Madison Avenue

According to court documents, surveillance video shows Thuama's SUV and Lubunga's body in the roadway. Multiple witnesses also told police that they saw the driver hit Lubunga and drive away. 

Lubunga was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Police tracked the SUV's license plate to Thuama. 

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According to court documents, Thuama admitted to being the driver when Lubunga was hit. 

He allegedly told police he was driving to pick up his kids when "a person appeared" in front of his Honda, and that he did not stop "because he panicked and did not call the police after he went home without picking up his kids." 

The detective who conducted the interview said Thuama took him to the garage to show him the damaged Honda CRV. The front of the car was heavily damaged, especially the grill and hood. Police said damaged pieces left at the scene matched Thuama's car. 

Credit: WTHR
IMPD is investigating a deadly hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian Aug. 9, 2024, at East Stop 11 Road and Madison Avenue.

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A deadly intersection

Lubunga is the fourth person killed on Stop 11, near Madison Avenue, since 2022. 

Additionally, the Indianapolis Metro Planning Organization has tracked another five pedestrians who were seriously injured after being hit by drivers there since 2021. 

The IMPO is planning a "road diet" for Madison Avenue, which would take it down from five lanes to four lanes. It will also include a multi-use trail and sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety. 

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