'Deeply dedicated' Indianapolis doctor fatally struck by SUV while walking on sidewalk

Sarah Nelson, Indianapolis Star
·1 min read
20

UPDATE: Kelli Anderson has been charged with reckless homicide for the second time, according to a news release issued Friday, March 31, by the Marion County Prosecutor's Office. The charges come roughly 10 months after Brian Dillman, an Indianapolis doctor, was fatally struck by an SUV as the physician walked along the sidewalk on the north side of the city.

Less than a month after Dillman died, Anderson was involved in a second fatal crash, in which she was charged with reckless homicide and six counts of criminal recklessness after investigators discovered she was not medically cleared to drive by her doctor.

ORIGINAL: An Indianapolis emergency room physician died Thursday after being struck by an SUV while walking on a sidewalk on the north side of the city, health officials and police said.

Police said officers responded to the collision near West 49th and Meridian streets just before 5 p.m. Investigators determined a pedestrian, later identified as Brian Scott Dillman, had been walking on the sidewalk when a driver in a GMC Acadia crossed lanes for "unknown reasons," drove over the curb and struck him.

Dillman was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital where he died shortly after arriving.

Franciscan Health officials on Friday said Dillman was a doctor for the health system’s Indianapolis Emergency Department and former Beech Grove hospital for 20 years. Officials in a statement called Dillman a “tireless professional” who was “deeply dedicated” to his patients.

Brian Dillman, was killed after being struck by a SUV on West 49th and Meridian streets on Thursday, May 19. He worked as an emergency room physician in Indianapolis for Franciscan Health.
Brian Dillman, was killed after being struck by a SUV on West 49th and Meridian streets on Thursday, May 19. He worked as an emergency room physician in Indianapolis for Franciscan Health.

“Franciscan Health is devastated to learn of the unexpected, tragic death of Dr. Brian Dillman,” the statement said. “Franciscan mourns Dr. Dillman’s passing, and our prayers, thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.”

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said the driver of the Acadia in the crash continued down the sidewalk after mounting the curb, clipping the side mirror on a utility pole in the process.

Police said that’s when the driver struck Dillman and continued down the path, slamming into another utility pole, then a second vehicle, before coming to a stop. Police officials said the other car involved was heading west on West 49th Street and had stopped before the collision.

Both drivers were taken to hospitals for a blood draw, which is routine for fatal car collisions. Police have not announced any charges in the crash.

Contact Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com or 317-503-7514. 

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis doctor fatally struck by SUV on sidewalk Thursday