SOMERSET, Ky. (LEX 18) – The Mayor of Somerset maintains his innocence and believes he knows exactly why he’s being accused of fleeing the scene of an accident.
Mayor Eddie Girdler spoke with LEX 18 following his court appearance this morning.
He tells LEX 18 that the complaints about him leaving the scene of an accident involving a bicyclist are false and that he’s simply being targeted.
“If I wasn’t the mayor… probably nothing would happen,” says Girdler.
Video of the crash in question shows a cyclist crossing the road as Girdler appears to slam on his brakes, and the cyclist did not fall off the bicycle. The girl walks away.
She didn’t require medical attention at the scene but later went to a local hospital where she was flown to UK Hospital. Girdler says that the video will make his case and pointed out something else.
“They refuse treatment from our outstanding EMS service and they refuse transportation. Those are a couple of red flags,” said Girdler.
A family friend of the victim says the girl was struck by the car and that she later felt pain in her stomach and hip.
If anyone was injured, the Mayor says he feels badly for them, but he remains uncertain of what crime was committed. Eyewitnesses saw and heard his car screech to a halt, but everyone appeared to go away unharmed.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney has recused himself from the case given his relationship with the mayor. Special counsel may not be appointed by the Attorney General when the case returns to court next month.
