INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The heartache lingers for Shane Bernard, a man whose life was forever altered by a tragic hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of his fiancée, Alexandra Leal. The roadside memorial on Lyndhurst Drive, where the 30-year-old was killed last September, stands as a poignant reminder of a future lost too soon. Flowers and mementos at the site grow with each passing month, marking birthdays and holidays that Leal will never celebrate.
Bernard carries the weight of his loss with him, symbolized by the engagement ring he now wears around his neck instead of seeing it on Leal’s finger. The couple had planned to marry this year, but those plans were shattered on that fateful day. Now, Bernard’s grief is compounded by frustration with a justice system he feels has failed him.
The driver responsible for Leal’s death, Leticia Ariza-Haddrick, received a sentence that Bernard believes is far too lenient. Ariza-Haddrick was sentenced to just one year of house arrest followed by two years of probation after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and obstruction of justice. For Bernard, the sentence is a mere slap on the wrist for a crime that left two children without their mother.
Court documents reveal that Ariza-Haddrick turned herself in nearly three weeks after the incident, claiming she only learned she had hit someone through news reports. Bernard, however, struggles to accept this explanation, recalling how his cries for help were heard by neighbors up to 50 houses away. He questions how Ariza-Haddrick could have driven away without realizing the gravity of her actions.
The light sentence, Bernard argues, sends a dangerous message in a city where hit-and-run fatalities have doubled in 2024 compared to the previous year. He fears it conveys a sense of impunity, suggesting that such crimes carry minimal consequences. “It’s like saying if you want to hurt someone, just use a car,” Bernard lamented, highlighting the disparity between the severity of the crime and the punishment.
Bernard’s plea for justice is echoed by others in the community who are concerned about the increase in hit-and-run incidents. They worry that the current legal framework is inadequate to deter such reckless behavior. Bernard has reached out to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office seeking clarification on the plea agreement terms, hoping for answers that might bring some semblance of justice for Leal and her family.
As the community grapples with this tragedy, the roadside tribute to Leal remains a stark symbol of love, loss, and the quest for accountability. It serves as a reminder of the lives impacted by the choices made on that tragic day.