The Indiana State Police have announced that the victims of Sunday morning’s fatal crash on I-70 have been identified by the Marion County Coroner’s Office. Their families have been notified.
The driver of the 2018 Lincoln that had stopped on the side of the road was 54 year old Jeffrey Monroe of Avon Indiana. It is believed he was a ride sharing operator who was transporting a passenger and the passenger became ill. Mr. Monroe pulled to the side of the road and got out of the car to assist the passenger.
The passenger in the Lincoln was identified as 26 year old Edwin Jackson of Atlanta Georgia.
Both occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Marion County Coroner’s Office.
Preliminary investigation determined a passenger car was stopped on the side of I-70 near the 76.4 mile marker and both occupants were standing outside the car. A black Ford F-150 drove onto the emergency shoulder and struck the rear of the car also striking both people. One of the people struck was thrown into the center lane of I-70. Shortly after the crash, and before any 911 calls were received, Trooper Ty Mays was driving through the area and noticed a vehicle in front of him make an evasive maneuver to the left. Mays then spotted the wreckage along the right side of the road and activated his emergency lights. As he slowed to stop for the crash he struck the body of the victim in the center lane.
The driver of the pick-up truck, who identified himself as 37 year old Alex Cabrera Gonsales of Indianapolis, fled the scene on foot. He was apprehended shortly after on the ramp to Holt Road by Trooper Mays. It is believed Gonsales was intoxicated and was driving without a license. He was transported to the Marion County Jail, the result of the test for intoxication is pending.
The identities of the two victims is being withheld until proper notification to family can be made. Weather is not believed to be a factor in this crash. All lanes of I-70 westbound remain closed at Holt Road and are anticipated to be reopened before 11:00 a.m.
This is an ongoing investigation with no further information to release at this time.