Three Killed in Crash on Indy's East Side

Indiana State Police are currently investigating a tragic crash that claimed the lives of three individuals on Tuesday night in Indianapolis. The incident began when a state trooper attempted to pull over a Dodge Challenger for reckless driving near E. Washington and Mitthoefer Road at approximately 9:37 p.m.

According to reports, the driver of the Challenger refused to stop, prompting a pursuit that headed east into rural Hancock County. Despite efforts from multiple officers from Indiana State Police (ISP) and other agencies, they were unable to position themselves properly to deploy stop sticks.

At around 9:50 p.m., state troopers made the difficult decision to terminate the pursuit due to concerns about the suspect's aggressive driving behavior. Additionally, it was noted that the individual had turned around and was heading back towards Indianapolis from the rural area with low population density.

Shortly after this decision was made, ISP dispatchers overheard a radio transmission from the Indianapolis Fire Department regarding a crash near 10th and Mitthoefer at approximately 9:55 p.m. In response to this information, troopers rushed to the scene of the accident.

Upon arrival, authorities discovered three critically injured individuals and two heavily damaged vehicles, one of which was identified as the Dodge Challenger involved in the earlier pursuit. Sadly, despite immediate medical attention provided by emergency responders on-site, one woman succumbed to her injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital.

Inside the Challenger were three occupants who were all trapped inside following impact. Two out of these three individuals were also taken to hospitals but tragically passed away later on. The Marion County Coroner’s Office has since identified those who lost their lives as Makayla Hankins (21 years old), Christian Leyba-Gonzalez (14 years old), and Jose Gonzalez Jr (32 years old).

Preliminary investigations conducted by ISP revealed that the Challenger failed to stop at a red light, resulting in a collision with another vehicle at an extremely high speed. This devastating impact ultimately led to the fatalities.

The driver of the Dodge Challenger sustained minor injuries and has been arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement causing death.

Indiana State Police continue their investigation into this tragic incident, working diligently to gather all necessary information surrounding the crash.

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