At approximately 7 a.m. Tuesday, Howard County Dispatch received information from Battleground Police Department (Tippecanoe County) regarding a stolen vehicle. KPD dispatch put out an attempt to locate on a black Honda Civic stolen from Battleground, Indiana. Information received indicated the individual in possession of the stolen vehicle was possibly armed and dangerous and en route to Kokomo, Indiana to possibly do harm to an individual.
At approximately 11 a.m., dispatch re-broadcast the attempt to locate on the stolen Honda Civic. At approximately 11:56 a.m., uniformed officers of the Kokomo Police Department observed the stolen Honda Civic in the area of Main and Vaile.
Officers attempted to stop the stolen vehicle; however, the vehicle did not stop. The vehicle pursuit ended in the 500 Block of South Dixon Road. A collision occurred between the stolen Honda Civic and a black Ford Taurus. The sole occupant of the Honda Civic was pronounced deceased at the scene by Howard County Coroner. He was later identified as 15-year-old Travis L. Abston Jr. of Battleground, formerly of Kokomo. The driver of the Ford Taurus was transported to St. Vincent Hospital Kokomo for additional treatment.
This case is under investigation by the Kokomo Police Department Accident Investigation Section and the Howard County Coroner.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Officer Troy Hintz 765-456-7100 or the Howard County Coroner’s Office at 765-456-1186. You may qualify for a cash reward by reporting your anonymous tip to Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.