Aaron Hineman, from a Faacebook page
WESTPORT—Lawrence County authorities are investigating the death of an Indiana man who was run over by a car as he lay in the roadway on Illinois Rte. 33 in Westport yesterday morning.
One of the biggest questions thus far is how he got to where he was found lying in the roadway where he was struck, and if he had been beaten or struck prior to being run over the driver, who called the report in to authorities.
According to official sources, Lawrence County dispatch received a call February 19, at approximately 12:07 a.m., from Shannon Knoblett, 21, of 356 Mill Springs, Fillmore, Ind.
Knoblett said she had been driving northbound on Ill. Rte. 33 when she thought she had struck an animal lying in the road.
But when she turned around to make sure, she discovered 28-year-old Aaron James Hineman, of 106 Willie St., Worthington, Ind., laying in the roadway, severly injured.
Sources indicate that Knoblett started screaming and calling for help.
Vincennes, Ind., emergency responders, being closer, arrived on scene first and found Hineman bleeding from the head and groin area but still alive and gasping for breath.
Emergency medical treatment was begun immediately.
Some time later Hineman died of his injuries. It is unclear whether or not Hineman died at the scene, enroute to, or at a nearby hospital.
Authorities have told Disclosure that both Hineman and Knoblett were staying with friends in Palestine, Ill., but otherwise have no previous connection. To clarify, our information has it that they were NOT staying in the same location.
Early in the investigation authorities were wondering where Hineman’s truck was.
“We later found it to be in the possession of a friend of his in Palestine who was working on it for him,” said an official source.
Authorities say several hours before he was found by Knoblett, Hineman, while in Vincennes, Ind., had used a friend’s cell phone to call another friend to come and pick him up and give home a ride back to Palestine.
“When the friend arrived in Vincennes, Aaron was nowhere to be found,” the source said. “So the friend drove around for a bit and then headed back to Palestine.”
Initial interviews of those who knew Hineman have revealed that he was a student at Vincennes University (VU).
Authorities say they have learned that he had at least mentioned thoughts of suicide to counselors at VU.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and an autopsy is being performed to determine toxicology and if Hineman had been struck before Knoblett arrived at that fateful location.
“I feel bad for everyone involved,” the source said, “bad for Hineman and his friends and family as well as for Ms. Knoblett.”