A tragic incident unfolded in Hendricks County, Indiana, as Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith lost his life while attempting to stop a stolen vehicle. Two individuals have been preliminarily charged in connection with the trooper’s death. The driver, Eddie P. Jones Jr., 18, from Sikeston, Missouri, faces a murder charge, while his passenger, 19-year-old DeMareon L. Curry, is charged with auto theft. A third passenger, a 15-year-old female who was reported missing from Missouri, will be handed over to authorities but is not being charged.
The pursuit began when state troopers tried to pull over the stolen 2016 Chevrolet Traverse driven by Jones Jr. The chase led them to Ronald Reagan Parkway, where Trooper Smith was attempting to deploy stop sticks to halt the stolen vehicle and end the pursuit. Video footage from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) shows the suspect’s vehicle swerving towards Smith as he throws the stop sticks. Smith was struck and thrown into the air, while the suspect’s vehicle crashed after hitting the trooper.
Despite immediate medical attention, Trooper Aaron Smith, 33, succumbed to his injuries at Eskenazi Hospital. The suspects’ car crashed into a guardrail near the I-70 Westbound on-ramp, tumbling down an embankment. At the crash site, broken glass, car parts, and personal belongings, including a receipt and work badge from Sikeston, Missouri, were found. The Hendricks County Prosecutor will review the preliminary charges and consider additional criminal charges.
Condolences and messages of support have poured in from across the state following the devastating loss of Trooper Smith. In a touching gesture, a Plainfield police officer visited the crash site, braving the rain to place flowers in honor of the fallen trooper. The community mourns the loss of a dedicated officer who served to protect and serve.
Captain Jon Broom from the Sikeston, Missouri Public Safety Department revealed that the stolen Chevrolet had been reported missing by Jones Jr.’s mother six days prior to the fatal collision. It remains unclear whether the car belonged to Jones Jr.’s mother or if she was simply responsible for it. The stolen vehicle was initially spotted by troopers through Flock Cameras in Indianapolis. Sikeston Police believe that all three individuals in the stolen car were together. The city’s juvenile department will arrange for the return of the 15-year-old girl to Missouri.