A DRIVER accused of hitting a 22-year-old woman with his car, leaving her hospitalized with several fractured limbs, has been pictured.
Ellie Bentley, a recent graduate who moved to the US from Britain, spent two weeks in the ICU after a horror hit-and-run and shooting.
Facebook/ Ellie BentleyEllie Bentley, 22, was dragged under a car following a hit-and-run in St. Louis[/caption]
KSDKA car reversed over her and dragged her two blocks while trying to escape a shooting[/caption]
GettyThe Brit moved to the United States last year with her then-boyfriend, soccer player Indiana Vassilev[/caption]
She was getting out of a car just before 3 am on February 25 when she got caught up in a shooting in St. Louis, Missouri, where she lives.
An unnamed man, 25, accidentally got into a stranger’s car thinking it was his, and the occupant, 35-year-old Andre Wilson, allegedly opened fire on him.
Ellie then ducked behind a nearby car to hide from the bullets.
But the driver of that nearby car, 25-year-old Dionte Taylor, is accused of reversing suddenly and speeding off, with Ellie trapped helplessly underneath the vehicle.
A police spokesperson said that Ellie “was struck by a vehicle that left the scene, unrelated to the shooting.
“The suspect that fled in that separate unrelated vehicle, a 25-year-old black male, was later located and taken into custody.
“A suspect, 25-year-old Dionte Taylor, was located and taken into custody for leaving the scene of the accident involving the 22-year-old female.
“The Circuit Attorney’s Office issued a warrant against Mr. Taylor for ‘Leaving the Scene of an Accident – Physical Injury.’”
Although the shooting suspect escaped the scene, the spokesperson added, “The suspect wanted for the shooting, Andre Wilson, was also arrested on February 29, 2024, and charges were issued against him.
“Both the suspect from the shooting and the suspect from the hit and run were arrested. No suspects remain at large.”
The shocking scenes took place in the Grove area of St. Louis near Barnes Jewish Hospital.
Police say the shooting victim was taken to hospital alongside Ellie in a critical condition.
It comes after Ellie’s attorney, Ben Tobin, told The U.S. Sun that his client was an “unlucky bystander” who got caught up in a horrifying series of events.
“She had just gotten out of a car when the shooting started,” he explained.
He went on, “She ducked down behind another vehicle until the shooting stopped, but then the person whose car she was hiding behind floored it, hit her, ran her over, and dragged her for a couple of blocks.”
Ellie broke her silence recently to thank her supporters for their well-wishes and donations to her medical treatment.
She will need five reconstructive surgeries following the hit and run, and a GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for her recovery.
So far, the appeal has raised more than $21,000 of its $75,000 target.
Ellie moved to the US only last year to be with her then-boyfriend, American soccer player Indiana Vassilev.
She is originally from Bingham, a small town in Nottinghamshire just eight miles east of Nottingham.
The 23-year-old winger plays for MLS team St. Louis FC following spells at Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Ellie recently graduated after studying math and physics at the University of York.
She came to the States after Indiana transferred to the MLS, but the couple have since reportedly broken up.
Tobin said that Ellie’s family had traveled to the US to be with her and that she faced a “long road” to recovery ahead.
“She was pretty sure she was going to die as she was dragged underneath the vehicle,” he said.
“For the entire time, she was lying there trying to hold on and do whatever she could so she didn’t end up getting kicked out under the wheel.”
Michael Browning, an Alderman for the St. Louis 9th Ward which covers the site of the shooting, told local outlet KSDK that it was upsetting to see something so tragic happen in the area.
“It’s obviously a very sad thing that happened, and I’m wishing a full recovery to all involved,” he said.
He added that police and paramedics got to the scene quickly and staff from a nearby bar also came out to help after hearing gunshots and screaming.
Tobin described the area as “up-and-coming,” but said that it wasn’t known for crime.
No date has been set yet for a trial for either of the two men arrested in the case.
SLMPDDionte Taylor, 25, is accused of driving the car involved in Ellie’s horror injuries[/caption]
SLMPDAndre Wilson, 35, is accused of opening fire on a group of people who tried to get into his car by mistake[/caption]
instagramEllie has broken her silence since leaving the ICU[/caption]
instagramHer family has flown out to the US to be with her[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
