WLPD: Schenke had no insurance when campaign RV took out lamp post

West Lafayette police say Indiana House candidate re-upped insurance before reporting he’d knocked over pole, left the scene. Plus, Habitat adds to 40th anniversary builds in Lincoln Neighborhood

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SCHENKE CITED FOR NO INSURANCE WHEN CAMPAIGN RV TOOK OUT LAMP POST

West Lafayette police on Wednesday cited Indiana House candidate Jim Schenke for driving without active insurance Saturday when he backed his campaign RV into a lamp post in the West Lafayette Village, knocking it over and leaving the scene before reporting it to the city or police.

Schenke already was ticketed Saturday for leaving the scene.

According to West Lafayette investigators, Schenke renewed an insurance policy within an hour after the accident, but before he left a phone message with the West Lafayette Street Department about bumping and knocking over the pole with the 32-foot RV. The West Lafayette Republican was ticketed for operating without financial responsibility.

(Photo courtesy of Randy Studt)

“He did not have an active policy at the time of the crash, but it appears he reactivated one shortly afterward,” Capt. Adam Ferguson, WLPD captain of patrol, said Wednesday. “According to the investigator, it appears he reactivated the policy after the crash and before he contacted the street department and left the voice message.”

Schenke did not immediately respond to a phone message or a text Wednesday afternoon for a response.

In recent days, Schenke has insisted he followed Indiana law dealing with reporting property damage crashes.

West Lafayette police reported that the crash, seen by witnesses at Vienna Espresso Bar and other nearby businesses, happened at 3:06 p.m. Ferguson said Schenke did leave a message at the street department, but it came at 5:35 p.m. – 2½ hours after witnesses reported the crash.