On Tuesday night, September 26, on Indianapolis’ far east side, a Dodge Challenger involved in a police pursuit collided with another vehicle.
The incident resulted in the deaths of three people, including a 14-year-old boy.
The pursuit was initiated by an Indiana state trooper who attempted to pull the Challenger over due to suspicions of reckless driving.
The chase lasted for approximately 12 minutes, weaving through urban streets and extending into the neighboring rural areas of Hancock County, Indiana. Despite the combined efforts of state troopers and other law enforcement officers to deploy stop sticks, they were unsuccessful in intercepting the vehicle.
As the car left the less populated rural areas and began its return to the more densely populated regions of Indianapolis’ east side, troopers, concerned about the driver’s aggressive and reckless driving, made the decision to terminate the pursuit. However, only five minutes after the chase was called off, there was news of a grave accident near where the pursuit had originally commenced.
The Dodge Challenger ran a red light and, at a significant speed, collided with another vehicle. Two passengers in the Challenger, Christian Leyba-Gonzalez, 14, and Jose Gonzalez Jr., 32, were declared dead at the hospital. Additionally, Makayla Hankins, 21, who was the sole occupant and driver of the other involved vehicle, lost her life due to the injuries sustained in the collision. The Challenger’s driver, 19-year-old Luis Leyba-Gonzalez, although involved in the severe crash, only suffered minor injuries.
Subsequently, he was arrested on a preliminary charge of resisting law enforcement, which resulted in death.