ISP: Man charged with OWI after crashing vehicle on I-465 SB, leaving motorcyclist dead

INDIANAPOLIS — A man has been charged after allegedly driving under the influence before crashing his vehicle on I-465 southbound, leading to the death of a motorcyclist.

Indiana State Police troopers were dispatched around 2 a.m. to the 10.7-mile marker on I-465 southbound on the city’s west side in response to reports of a serious crash occurring in the area.

ISP said dispatch had advised that a 2008 Honda Civic had collided with a concrete median barrier and came to a halt in the middle of the roadway before a motorcycle passed through and struck the vehicle. Troopers arrived on the scene and located a motorcyclist lying on the ground. He was found unresponsive and was soon pronounced dead on the scene by emergency medical personnel.

According to ISP, preliminary information indicates the Honda Civic was heading southbound on I-465 in the exit lane to Sam Jones Expressway when the driver, who they identified as 24-year-old Edward Perez of Indianapolis, allegedly made an “evasive turn” to get out of the exit lane and continue driving on I-465.

Perez reportedly lost control of his vehicle and crossed all lanes before crashing into a concrete median barrier. Following the crash, the Honda was sitting in the left lane of I-465 when a motorcyclist heading southbound in the left lane struck the Honda, causing him to eject and suffer fatal injuries.

Perez did not sustain any serious injuries and is expected to recover, ISP said. As the investigation into the crash continued, ISP said troopers developed probable cause to suspect that Perez was driving under the influence. He was placed under arrest and preliminarily charged with operating while intoxicated.

The southbound lanes of I-465 were shut down for nearly five hours as authorities responded to the scene. The crash remains under investigation.