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BOONE COUNTY, Ky. (WXIX) – A man has pleaded guilty to charges in the 2023 death of a woman.

Ricky Raider pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of the accident and committing a persistent felony, according to Boone & Gallatin County Commonwealth’s Attorney Louis Kelly.

The guilty plea provides some comfort to the family of 18-year-old Lauren Collins, her mother told FOX19 NOW on Wednesday.

“Not having to endure a heartbreaking trial and knowing that justice will be served is a small consolation in the midst of this terrible tragedy,” said Collins’ mother, Amy Marsh. “I will do everything I can to continue to honor my daughter’s legacy through our nonprofit, Shine Like Lauren, and that is where my energy will be focused.”

The charges against Raider stem from Collins’ death on July 16, 2023, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said Collins, of Independence, was driving south on Interstate 75 around 12:15 a.m. when his vehicle was struck by a tire coming off another vehicle.

The tire came from the Raider’s 1993 Ford F-250, which was heading north.the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office said the tire came to rest near the concrete barrier separating northbound and southbound I-75 after exiting his truck. Raider fled the scene, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

“What he did was steal the lug nuts from other wheels to get the tire onto the road and get it off the interstate,” said Maj. Philip Ridgell of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

Six days later on July 22, 2023, Raider came to Istiklal Police Department. He admitted on July 16 that he “lost his tire on the interstate this past weekend but did not believe his tire hit anyone,” the sheriff’s office said.

A few months later, Sergeant Jeff Nagy obtained a key piece of evidence in the case.

The sheriff’s office says the night Collins died, Raider called a female inmate at the Bullitt County Detention Center.

That call was recorded.

During the phone call, Raider again admitted that his Ford truck had a flat tire, the sheriff’s office said.

But this time Raider saw the tire hit Collins’ vehicle and knew the collision was likely fatal or caused injury, the sheriff’s office said.

The Boone & Gallatin County commonwealth’s attorney is recommending a seven-year sentence for Raider.

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