Indianapolis – Early this morning around 3:30, the Indiana State Police, along with the Pike Township Fire Department, responded to a serious single vehicle crash on the ramp from I-465 northbound to 56th Street on the west side. Upon arrival, Trooper Jacob Wildauer located the vehicle in the ditch with one occupant trapped and unresponsive in the passenger seat. The driver, 20 year old Jose A. Rico Gonzalez of Indianapolis, was able to climb from the wreckage prior to the arrival of emergency crews. The passenger, 26 year old Luigi Manzo of Indianapolis, was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Preliminary investigation, and witness statements, lead investigators to believe the 2004 BMW was traveling at a very high rate of speed. As the vehicle exited onto the 56th Street Ramp it failed to navigate the curve, ran off the roadway and rolled several times. A witness told police they believe the vehicle could have been traveling over 100 miles per hour. Investigating officers also detected alcohol on the breath of the driver, and as with all serious or fatal crashes, a blood draw was conducted at the hospital to detect presence of alcohol or drugs. Gonzalez is currently hospitalized and being treated for non life threatening injuries.
This is an ongoing investigation, any potential criminal charges will be determined by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. One aspect of the investigation into the crash will determine the estimated speed of the vehicle and any other factors that may have contributed to the crash.
