INDIANAPOLIS — Court documents reveal information on what led to a chase with a Dodge Challenger and Indiana State Police minutes before the Challenger was involved in a deadly crash on Sept. 26.
According to the court docs, Luis Leyba-Gonzalez, 19, was driving his Dodge Challenger and had his 14-year-old brother, Christian Leyba-Gonzalez, and 32-year-old cousin, Jose Gonzalez Jr., with him. Family said the three were going to get McDonald's, and Leyba-Gonzalez later told police he was taking his cousin on a joyride as he hadn't been in the Challenger before.
While on East Washington Street at Mitthoefer Road, Indiana State Police said they tried stop Leyba-Gonzalez for speeding, following too closely, and weaving in and out of traffic.
The chase hit speeds of 140 mph, according to an investigator's inspection of dashcam video.
ISP claims troopers gave up on the chase at East 10th Street and German Church Road – about one mile from the crash at East 10th Street and Mitthoefer Road.
Three minutes after terminating the pursuit, IMPD received calls about the crash.
At the crash scene, troopers said Leyba-Gonzalez was saying he was the driver and asking medics to check on his brother.
A witness said the Challenger blew past her at the intersection going more than 100 mph and went through a red light, colliding with a Toyota.
The driver of the Toyota, later identified as 21-year-old Makayla Hankins, died after being taken to a hospital. There was no one else in that car, police said.
At the hospital, police claim Leyba-Gonzalez made a statement saying he was sorry. Leyba-Gonzalez said he did not know if the police were still chasing him when he crashed. Leyba-Gonzalez had minor injures. He is facing three counts of resisting law enforcement.
Leyba-Gonzalez was held on a $50,000 bond, but according to online court records, was released from custody after posting bond. His initial hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 9 a.m.