Texas man sentenced in deadly downtown hit-and-run

INDIANAPOLIS – A Texas driver who killed a man and injured two other people in a downtown Indianapolis hit-and-run crash last year learned his punishment.

On Friday, Marion County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Prinz Harrison sentenced Salvador Banales to a total of 21 years. Of that, he’ll spend 5.5 years in the Indiana Department of Correction plus 4 years on probation, which can be served in his home state of Texas.

The remainder of the sentence–more than 11 years–was suspended outright.

Banales will have his license suspended for five years and will be required to use an ignition interlock device once his driving privileges are reinstated.

The judge weighed several aggravating factors, including Banales’ decisions, the impact of them on the victims and their families and the fact he hit three people, left the scene and filed an insurance claim alleging damage to his rental was the result of vandalism. He also attempted to leave the state.

Mitigating factors included Banales’ lack of any criminal history, the fact he sought out treatment and took classes on substance abuse of his own accord, his consistent work history, his level of education and his compliance with the conditions of his pretrial release.

The judge said the mitigating factors outweighed the aggravating ones.

Banales, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in bodily injury, catastrophic injury or death to another person. Both are Level 3 felonies.

In exchange for his guilty plea, the state dismissed the remaining counts:

• Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or catastrophic injury (Level 4 Felony)
• Causing catastrophic injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated (Level 4 Felony)
• Causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated (Level 5 Felony)
• Leaving the scene of an accident (Level 6 Felony)
• Leaving the scene of an accident (Level 6 Felony)
• False informing (Class B Misdemeanor)

The crash happened around 2 a.m. on March 9, 2024, near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and North College Avenue. Police found three people, including 27-year-old Brandon Breedlove, had been struck by a vehicle that left the scene.

Breedlove suffered from severe head trauma and died from his injuries. Another victim suffered a concussion and multiple abrasions, while the third suffered a hand injury.

Police determined a red 2022 Ford Mustang may have been involved in the crash and obtained surveillance footage of the incident.

The day after the crash, Banales reported damage to his rental car he attributed to vandalism. The car was a red 2022 Ford Mustang. Banales said he needed to board a plane for Texas and was reporting the damage for insurance purposes.

Detectives realized the damage couldn’t have been from vandalism. It appeared consistent with the hit-and-run crash reported downtown the night before. The passenger side view mirror was hanging and investigators found “human tissue and blood on the front passenger quarter panel, bumper area, and windshield,” according to court documents.

Police apprehended Banales as he attempted to board a flight for Texas.

During an interview with investigators, Banales said he was in town for a work convention and went out drinking. He said he should’ve stopped after the crash but didn’t because he was scared.

What did people say in court?

During Friday’s sentencing hearing, several friends of Breedlove spoke to describe the impact of the crash and his death on their lives. His mother, Catherine Hester, delivered heart-wrenching testimony during her impact statement.

Breedlove was her rock and only child. She fought tears throughout her statement in court.

“I’m just touched and honored that he has touched so many people,” she said. “He doesn’t know a stranger. He never has.”

She called her son an “amazing human being” and said life has changed for the worse.

“I’m devastated,” she said through tears. “Everybody has a little light inside of them. Mine’s dead. I have no life. I’m just living. This has changed my entire life.”

She recalled getting an early morning phone call and seeing her son in the emergency room, quickly realizing he was already dead.

“That will destroy your heart and your soul, knowing your child is just lying there dead,” she said. “You can’t do anything to help him. I died right then and there. I cry all the time and my life, it’s just been hell.”

She said a day doesn’t go by in which she didn’t say his name or think about him.

One of Banales’ cousins and one of his sisters spoke on his behalf. They voiced their support for him and said he was remorseful for what happened.

When given the chance to speak on his own behalf, Banales apologized for his actions and acknowledged his bad decisions led to an unfortunate series of events.

“Shame. Guild. Regret are just a few of the words. I can’t start to explain how I’ve felt since that night. It’s another day I thought would pass, and I’d make it home the next,” Banales said.

“I’m not the guy that went out that night. That’s somebody I don’t recognize,” he said of the crash. “I’ve been trying to work on myself since then.”

He said he would accept the sentence the court determined. He hoped the hearing would provide some measure of closure for all those affected.

“I made a mistake,” Banales said. “And I will pay for my actions. But I will come out a better man.”