An Indiana State Police officer killed in an interstate collision has passed away. According to police superintendent Doug Carter, trooper Aaron Smith passed away after attempting to use stop sticks earlier this evening while pursuing a stolen car.
Trooper Aaron Smith was a 5-year veteran of the Indiana State Police. Everyone in the Indiana State Police community, including his family and friends, is in an extreme state of despair as they grieve the passing of the late Aaron Smith.
Keep reading this article to find out more about Aaron Smith death and more about the incident.
Stolen Car Pursuit Ends in Tragedy
During a pursuit of a stolen vehicle on the west side of the city, an Indiana State Police trooper was killed after being struck by a suspect’s vehicle.
On the west side of Indianapolis, close to 6 Points Road, around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the crash happened, according to ISP officers on the scene.
ISP Master Trooper Nick Klingkammer claimed that after officers from the Indianapolis region of the ISP noticed a stolen car on the southwest side of the city, a police pursuit ensued.
Troopers tried to stop the car, but according to ISP, a pursuit started. Officers then pursued the suspect vehicle to Ronald Reagan Parkway, where one of them was utilizing stop sticks to try and cease the pursuit.
The suspect car then struck that trooper, throwing him into the air, according to ISP. After striking the trooper, the suspect car crashed, according to Klingkammer.
What happened to Trooper Aaron Smith?
On Wednesday night, a sad accident claimed the life of an Indiana State Police officer. Around 8:30 p.m., the event happened close to Interstate 70 on Ronald Reagan Parkway.
In Indianapolis, police conducted a traffic stop after detecting a stolen vehicle, which resulted in a chase. Trooper Aaron Smith, a veteran of five years, was struck by the suspect’s car while he was deploying stop sticks to put an end to the pursuit.
Smith and the suspect both fell. Smith was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in a critical condition but later died. The people inside the suspect were transferred to nearby hospitals.
IMPD Statement
Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters of the Indiana State Police this evening. We may wear a different uniform, but we are still family in arms. IMPD also wants to send our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, and friends of ISP Trooper Aaron Smith. RIP Trooper Smith, you are the true definition of the word hero.
About Trooper Aaron Smith
Aaron Smith, a trooper who joined the force in 2018, was confirmed by ISP Superintendent Doug Carter as the dead individual. He is survived by his devoted wife, according to Carter.
He was one of those men that stuck out, according to Carter. Not to sound trite, but he was a stellar performer for the Indiana State Police. Smith was a Whiteland native and a 2008 Whiteland High School graduate, according to an ISP post from 2018.
He joined the Army National Guard in 2011, and the ISP in 2018. He had previously worked in insurance and construction.
ISP Master Trooper Nick Klingkammer stated,
State police, IMPD, Plainfield PD, Hendricks Fire, and EMS units are responding close to the collision area, as seen on a Department of Transportation camera and from our crews below. Detectives and accident reconstructionists are also responding, according to Klingkammer.
“This is not only a crash investigation, but also a criminal investigation,” Klingkammer said.
ISP Superintendent Carter stated that the criminal probe has grown rather complex in an update at around 11 p.m. He said that the incident was captured on camera, which would be used in the investigation.
The numerous people who were inside the suspect car were all taken to nearby hospitals and are likely to make it out alive.
Tributes to Aaron Smith
The community has been devastated by the news, and other police officers have paid heartfelt tribute on their social media pages, writing that even if they may wear a different uniform, they are still “family in arms.”
Henry County Sheriff’s Office posted,
Praying for the family of ISP Trooper Aaron Smith. Aaron was tragically killed in the line of duty tonight. Also praying for our ISP brothers and sisters in blue.
Greensboro Police Department posted,
Our deepest condolences go out to the family, and our brothers and sisters of the Indiana State Police, for the tragic loss of Trooper Aaron Smith.
Plainfield Police Department posted,
Our hearts are broken for the family, friends, and the entirety of Indiana State Police after losing Trooper Aaron Smith in the Line Of Duty. We pray for peace and comfort for all his loved ones and his ISP family. May he rest in peace.
Frankfort Police Department posted,
As we watch Superintendent Doug Carter officially release that Trooper Aaron Smith has died from his injuries, our entire department mourns with him and the Indiana State Police. A very sad situation and our prayers are with the family and first responders. A ruthless coward of a criminal struck Trooper Smith with a vehicle tonight while fleeing law enforcement.
“We send our deepest condolences to the entire community and his family. Please keep the members of this department and their families in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this most difficult of times”.
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.
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