A Fairfield woman is facing a criminal charge for leaving the scene of an accident. The Jefferson County Law Center was notified on October 8th that a child on a bicycle had been hit by a female driver in a four door car on Fairview Street north of Pence Elementary School in Fairfield.

Five days later, 18-year-old Nicole Wheeler came to the law center to admit she was the driver. According to the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, the conflict of interest posed by the fact that Wheeler’s parents are employed by the City of Fairfield led the investigation to be handled by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and case be referred to the Wapello County Attorney’s Office.

On Monday, Wheeler was charged  with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Injury, a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and $1,875 fine.