A bill strengthening penalties for drivers who flee the scenes of serious car accidents was approved by the House Public Safety Committee and will proceed to full floor debate in the coming weeks.

Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, co-sponsored the legislation that would allow felony charges to be brought against hit-and-run drivers in which the accident results in death, an offense currently punishable as an aggravated misdemeanor.

ISU student Kelly Laughery died Dec. 3 on Mortensen Road after she was struck by 20-year-old Shanda Munn, junior in pre-journalism and mass communication, who then left the scene. No charges have been filed in connection to the accident. Heddens said the House may not debate the bill, which was introduced Feb. 2, for at least a week. Of the Public Safety Committee’s 21 members, 20 voted in favor of the bill.