SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – A Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant charged after his county-issued squad car struck a pedestrian in a downtown Springfield crosswalk has pleaded not guilty.
Lt. Andrew Henton did not appear in court for his first hearing Thursday. His attorney appeared on his behalf and entered the not guilty plea to a charge of failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Henton is due back in court in January.
County officials released dashcam video of the Sept. 24 crash Friday. Officials said Henton was off duty when he drove the county-issued vehicle through downtown Springfield.
The video shows Henton turning from Ninth Street onto Monroe Street near the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office before striking a pedestrian who was crossing Monroe Street, according to the county.
Officials said Henton stopped, got out to check on the pedestrian and called emergency services. Springfield police responded, and the pedestrian was taken to a local hospital.
The pedestrian’s injuries were not life-threatening, according to county officials. The person’s current condition and the full extent of the injuries are unknown.
The sheriff’s office said it reviewed the dashcam video and found Henton was not using a phone or computer and that there were no other distractions inside the vehicle. The office described the crash as an “unfortunate accident.”
Henton is not on leave, officials said.
