Kentucky Republican mayor charged with hitting a 15-year-old girl with his car — and fleeing the scene

A Republican mayor in Kentucky has been charged after he allegedly hit a 15-year-old cyclist and kept driving without seeing if she was alright.

Eastern Kentucky's WYMT reported that Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler claims he was not intoxicated when he hit the teenager after he was cited in Pulaski District Court on charges of leaving the scene of an accident and failure to render aid or assistance.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that witnesses at the scene of the accident claimed Girdler had a red light when he hit the teen girl, who was crossing the street on her bike alongside two other cyclists. The same witnesses said they saw the mayor's vehicle — a Chevrolet Tahoe with official plates — stop "abruptly" just before making contact with the girl's hip and the rear of the bike.

According to the citation against the mayor, witnesses said the car "sat for a few seconds and then left."

Trooper Matthew Parmley told the Herald-Leader that Girdler was "hanging around" the scene of the accident after the fact, and the report noted that the mayor admitted to running the red light, but claims he was unaware of hitting anyone.

"Everyone exited and I left not knowing anything had occurred," the mayor told WYMT. "There was no indication there was any injury or accident."

Melody Bradshaw, the mother of the girl Girdler allegedly hit, said she was shocked when she learned his identity.

"I couldn't believe it was the mayor that didn't stop and even see about the kid," she told WYMT.

Girlder is up for re-election this fall.