A Fulton County man was sentenced to 9 1/2 years in prison for a hit-and-run that killed a 12-year-old girl.

Almost a year after the incident took place, in November 2022, Gage Rogers, 27,  entered guilty pleas to a Level 4 felony of failure to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in death, and a Level 6 felony of leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.

Rogers contends he didn’t stop at the scene because he thought he had just struck a deer.

He was sentenced by Judge Greg Heller.

About 7:30 pm on November 5, 2021, the Fulton County Sheriff’s office received a call from a concerned citizen who saw kids walking along the road in dark clothing and was worried for their safety. While speaking to dispatchers, the caller said it appeared someone had been struck by a vehicle.

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office responded to State Road 19, north of 50 North.  Several juveniles were at the scene.  One, Isaiah Felix, 15,  was struck by what was believed to be the outside rearview mirror of a vehicle.  He was transported to a Fort Wayne hospital with head and face injuries. 

A search was begun when it was realized that a girl with the group was missing.  Brelynna Felix, 12, of Akron, was found in a field nearby.  Felix died from injuries sustained in the incident.

Felix was a Tippecanoe Valley Middle School student.

The investigation led the sheriff’s office to the car involved that had left the scene.  It was found in Akron.