Edwood Hastings pleads no contest in fatal hit-and-run

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The man who hit a pedestrian crossing the street and then took off will not go to trial. Edward Hastings squashed that possibility on Wednesday, September 18th when he entered a plea of no contest to the charge against him.

Hastings walked into a Milwaukee County courtroom on Wednesday with his mind made up; he was not going to fight the felony charge of hit and run resulting in death.

Hastings is accused of crashing his car into 32-year-old Andrea Barringer as she crossed the street at Farwell Ave. and Irving Pl. in Milwaukee on August 11th. Witnesses say she flew through the air after being struck. She later died from her injuries.

Hastings briefly stopped and then drove off after hitting Barringer. He told authorities he did that because he freaked out. Hastings then apparently went home, drank some beer to calm down, and turned himself in the next day.

Hastings pleaded no contest -- which is treated the same as pleading guilty. The prosecution's only recommendation is that he get an unspecified amount of prison time. Hastings seemed to be okay with that.

"I’m guilty of certain things and I’m sorry," said Hastings. "I apologize, but I don’t want to waste all of you guys’ time and have feelings of other people keep being brought up. I’m tired of seeing cameras. I’m tired of being a spectacle."

Family members of Hastings and Barringer were in court on Wednesday. But none wanted to speak on camera. Hastings is set to be sentenced on Tuesday, November 26th.