Indiana state trooper dies after being struck during police vehicle chase

PLAINFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — An Indiana State Police trooper has died after being struck by a vehicle fleeing from police Wednesday.

Police located a stolen vehicle and attempted to stop the driver, which led to a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit went onto I-70 and Ameriplex near the Indianapolis International Airport.

Around 8:45 p.m., Trooper Aaron Smith with the Indiana State Police was attempting to put down stop sticks on Ronald Reagan Parkway to stop the suspect vehicle before the vehicle struck him.

The suspect vehicle crashed after hitting Smith. All occupants of the suspect vehicle were taken to local hospitals. The condition of the suspects is unknown at this time.

Smith was taken to Eskenazi Hospital, where he later died.

Ronald Reagan Parkway and Ameriplex will be closed for several more hours, according to police. The entrance ramp onto I-70 eastbound was closed as of 9:02 p.m., and is expected to be closed for the next hour.

This is the 2nd instance this year of an Indiana state trooper being killed during a vehicle pursuit. In March, Senior Trooper James R. Bailey was struck and killed by a fleeing suspect vehicle while deploying stop tracks on I-69.