Crime & Safety

Charges Filed in Fatal Hit-and-Run

A man from the Ballwin area was charged Monday in connection to a fatal traffic incident last week in Town & Country.

Warrants were issued Monday morning for George Putney, 52, a resident of St. Louis County just east of Ballwin, in connection to a fatal traffic crash that killed one woman, according to police.

Putney, of the 1300 block of Forrest Lane in St. Louis, is charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident, but police said more charges are expected as the investigation continues. 

Putney is being held at the St. Louis County Justice Center on $15,000 bond, police stated in an email.

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He was wanted in connection to the fatal crash that happened Thursday, Jan. 26, at Clayton Road and Woods Hill Drive. Ciby Kimbrough, 70, of North St. Louis County died from injuries she suffered in that accident, but police said the driver who struck Kimbrough fled the scene.

Police located a car near the accident site that they believed was involved in the accident and authorities had been searching for the registered owner, Putney, since the accident. Putney turned himself in to police at the  Sunday morning.

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"While he refused to make a statement, detectives have positively linked him to the crash scene," Captain Gary Hoelzer stated in an email after Putney turned himself in.

In an email Monday, police said Putney was travelling westbound on Clayton Road near Woods Hill Road in a grey GMC Envoy when he crossed the double yellow centerline and crashed into Kimbrough's Volvo sedan.

"She died from massive injuries suffered as a result of the vehicle collision," Hoelzer previously told Patch.

According to investigators, Putney attempted to flee the scene of the accident and drove west on Clayton Road, but his vehicle stalled several hundred yards away and he then fled on foot.

Monday, the asked for the public’s help to create a timeline of Putney’s whereabouts prior to the accident.

Investigators are specifically interested in Putney's whereabouts between 1 and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26.

"This information is needed prior to proceeding with more serious charges against Putney," police stated in an email. "Information that may establish Putney’s presence at area bars, restaurants, casinos, etc. will be most helpful when seeking further charges on Putney."

Anyone with information may contact Detective Sergeant Rick Kranz  at 314 568-1453 or Town & Country Police dispatchers at 314 737-4600.


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