Somerset mayor cited with leaving scene of accident skeptical of victim's injuries

Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler is calling into question the severity of a teen's injuries following an apparent collision which led the city leader to receive a citation.

Girdler was scheduled to appear in court Friday, but there is another delay in his case as a special prosecutor will be named.

Kentucky State Police cited Girdler with leaving the scene of an accident after driving away from the incident captured on video. The video showed Girdler appearing to slam on his brakes as a teen cyclist traveled across the road he was driving on.

Girdler, who claims he was not aware of an accident, says the video shows the teen girl pedaled away after he slammed on his brakes, and he does not believe his Chevrolet Tahoe made contact with the bike.

The mayor said Friday there is new information about the treatment the girl and her family received or did not receive following the incident, and he believes the evidence will favor him.

“We do now have the information that the people and their parents refused treatment by our outstanding EMS service at the scene," Girdler claims, "And they refused transportation to the hospital.”

The Pulaski County 911 center says no one made an emergency call following the apparent collision.

The girl was taken to a local hospital before being airlifted to Lexington where she was treated for a liver laceration, according to her family. WKYT reached out to the attorney representing the 15-year-old, but the attorney declined to comment on the case.