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Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A suspect in a deadly hit-and-run crash in downtown Indianapolis was apprehended just as he was about to board a flight back to Texas. Salvador Banales, 27, faces multiple charges in connection with the incident that claimed the life of 27-year-old Brandon Breedlove and injured two others.
Tragic Incident on Massachusetts Avenue
The fatal hit-and-run occurred in the early hours of Saturday near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and North College Avenue. Indianapolis Metropolitan police officers responded to a report of a crash involving three pedestrians. Breedlove sustained critical injuries and later succumbed to severe head trauma at a local hospital.
Two other victims suffered injuries, with one sustaining a suspected concussion and the other a minor hand injury. Debris found at the scene, including pieces of a passenger side mirror, led investigators to identify a red 2020-2022 Ford Mustang as the vehicle involved in the crash.
Surveillance Footage and Vandalized Vehicle
Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured the speeding car striking the victims with its passenger side and failing to stop or offer assistance. Meanwhile, Banales had reported his rental car, a 2022 Ford Mustang, as being vandalized or side-swiped while he was at a bar.
When officers realized the proximity of the damaged car to the hit-and-run scene, they suspected a connection. Further inspection of the vehicle revealed human tissue and blood on the front passenger quarter panel, bumper area, and windshield, consistent with the crash downtown.
Arrest at Indianapolis International Airport
Police tracked flights bound for Texas at the airport and identified Banales, who was preparing to board a flight to Houston. During questioning, Banales admitted to hitting something on the way back to his hotel after consuming alcohol at a bar. He expressed regret for fleeing the scene out of fear and panic.
Despite claiming not to have consumed more alcohol after the crash, Banales emitted a strong smell of alcohol during the interview, indicating recent consumption. He was subsequently arrested in connection with the hit-and-run incident.
This arrest serves as a reminder of the consequences of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the tragic events that unfolded on Massachusetts Avenue, seeking justice for the victims and their families.
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