Authorities allege that a pedestrian was struck and killed on Petty Road in Missouri on April 13, 2026. The pedestrian was identified as 37-year-old Steven C. Notari. A Clay County grand jury has indicted Matthew R. Lavigne, 35, in connection with the crash. Authorities accuse Lavigne of leaving after the collision. He was arrested Tuesday and is being held on a $250,000 bond, according to KCTV. Lavigne denied knowing that he had hit a person, the report said. Investigators cited vehicle pieces from the location, blood attributed to the victim on the suspect vehicle, cellphone data, and surveillance video from nearby businesses while building their case. His first court appearance is set for September 4 in Clay County Circuit Court Division 4. The criminal allegations remain subject to the court process. What Makes This Incident Different A crash involving a pedestrian can produce especially serious consequences because a person on foot has little protection from the force of a vehicle. This reported incident is also different because authorities allege that the driver did not remain at the location after the collision. The report further identifies several forms of evidence investigators used to connect the case to a particular person. That can make preservation and careful review of physical, digital, and video evidence important. A criminal indictment is a formal accusation, not a civil determination of fault or a guarantee of any result in a separate injury or wrongful-death claim. Questions Investigators May Examine Investigators may examine what occurred on Petty Road before and after the reported collision. Records and evidence may help clarify the vehicle's movements, the pedestrian's location, and whether the available physical evidence is consistent with the account presented in court. They may also examine whether the recovered vehicle parts can be matched to a vehicle and what the reported cellphone information and nearby surveillance footage show. Investigators may consider the timing of those materials and whether the videos capture relevant activity. The evidence will determine what can be established. Because authorities allege that the driver left the area, investigators may also examine the reported actions after the collision. Those questions are separate from conclusions about civil responsibility, which depend on the applicable law and evidence developed in a particular claim. Evidence That May Need to Be Preserved Families and their representatives may want to act promptly to identify and preserve relevant information. Depending on the circumstances, materials that may be important include: - Photographs, measurements, diagrams, and reports concerning the Petty Road location - Recovered vehicle components and documentation showing where and how they were collected - Inspection photographs and forensic records relating to the vehicle identified in the investigation - Video recordings from local businesses, along with information about retention periods and camera coverage - Cellphone data, device records, and records explaining how any data was collected or analyzed - Witness contact information and contemporaneous statements, if any exist - Medical, emergency-response, and death-related records that may be relevant to damages - Court filings and records from the pending criminal case Some digital recordings can be deleted or overwritten quickly. A lawyer can request that potentially relevant material be retained while avoiding public speculation about what the evidence may show. What Families Should Know A criminal case and a civil wrongful-death claim serve different purposes. Prosecutors pursue criminal allegations on behalf of the government, while a civil claim may allow eligible family members to seek compensation under Missouri law for losses connected to a death. A criminal charge or conviction is not required before a family can ask a civil attorney to assess its options. Missouri law has filing deadlines, and the correct deadline can depend on the particular claim and facts. Delay can also make it harder to obtain video, vehicle evidence, or reliable witness accounts. Families do not need to resolve every factual question before seeking advice about preservation, insurance communications, or the relationship between a civil claim and a pending criminal matter. Compassionate legal guidance should include a clear explanation of possible next steps, without promises about results. Each family deserves time to understand its rights and the information available in its own situation. How Dunk Law Can Help Dunk Law represents families facing fatal pedestrian crashes and other serious motor-vehicle cases in Missouri. Our team can review the publicly available information, help identify evidence that may need prompt preservation, communicate with insurers, and explain how a possible wrongful-death claim may proceed alongside a criminal case. If your family is dealing with the loss reported in this case or a similar pedestrian collision, Dunk Law can provide a focused, confidential case evaluation and discuss practical steps to protect your interests. Related Dunk Law Resources - All practice areas This post is based on publicly available news reports and is provided for general information only. It is not legal advice.