ST. LOUIS – Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a man previously accused of running over and dragging a woman with his car in The Grove neighborhood of St. Louis last year.

The driver, Dionte Taylor, 26, was charged last year with dragging a British woman. The victim was later identified as Ellie Bentley, according to FOX 2’s news partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Investigators say Bentley was dragged around 3 a.m. on Feb. 25, 2024, in the 4500 block of Swan Avenue. She was hiding by the car after gunshots were heard hearby. She suffered life-altering injuries, including a brain injury, a broken pelvis, two broken legs, and a mangeled ear.

A spokesperson with the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office told FOX 2, to prove someone is criminally liable for leaving the scene of an accident, prosecutors need to show evidence of a driver’s intent for fleeing.

The spokesperson sent the following statement to FOX 2:

“We have the deepest sympathy for Ms. Bentley, who suffered severe, life-altering injuries as a result of this unfortunate incident. 

Our office does not comment on the basis for decisions to file nolle prosequi. However, these decisions always reflect information gathered during the continuing investigation that occurs after initial charging decisions are made.

We conducted a thorough, months-long analysis of the facts of this case. That analysis included a review of a physical reconstruction of the incident by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Under the circumstances of this case, evidence of driver intent is determinative of whether there is criminal liability.

As always, if any members of the public are aware of additional information regarding this incident, we would take such information into consideration.”