Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charge in Iowa Accident

A Feb. 23 sentencing has been scheduled for an Illinois man convicted leaving the scene of a fatal accident in a Burlington motel parking lot.

Thirty-five-year-old Phillip Evans, of Wood River, Illinois, pleaded guilty on Monday as the prosecutor told a judge that a vehicular homicide charge would be dropped for lack of evidence.

Police say 2-year-old Dniyah Brider was struck by a truck in the lot about 9:30 p.m. on May 10. She'd been with family members who were visiting friends at the motel. Investigators say the truck left but returned later.

The Hawk Eyereports that Evans acknowledged owning the truck, but he did not admit to being the driver when it hit the toddler. He admitted only that he didn't remain at the accident scene.