Husband claims wife fell out of car

January 19, 2010
POST-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT

HAMMOND -- The Hammond man who ran over and killed his wife early Sunday told police she fell out of the car.

Hammond Police are not releasing the name of the 30-year-old man, who struck and killed his wife Jennifer Wilkins-Puentez, 27.

Police Chief Brian Miller said officers responded to Lyons Street and Columbia Avenue at 2:58 a.m. where they found Wilkins-Puentez dead at the scene.

"She had been run over by the car," Miller said. "The driver was her husband."

The man tested at higher than the 0.08 percent blood alcohol limit, but Miller did not say what the results were. Police later released the man.

Miller said he told police that he was driving and his wife was a passenger when she opened her car door to release her coat which was stuck in the door.

"He said she fell out of the car and was run over," Miller said.

The incident is still under investigation by Lt. Patrick Vicari, Miller said, adding that police expect to take it to the Lake County Prosecutor's office this week for a formal review.

From: http://www.post-trib.com/news/1997740,hamfolo0119.article