INDIANAPOLIS — Three people died in a head-on crash early Saturday morning on Interstate 70, west of Holt Road, on the west side of Indianapolis.
The crash shut down the westbound lanes of the highway shortly after 4 a.m. at Holt Road.
The wrong way driver, who was one of those killed in the crash, has been identified by State police as 28-year-old Aaron Negash of Indianapolis.
According to a police account of the incident, a state trooper saw the Hyundai SUV of Negash parked on the westbound shoulder of I-70 but pointed east. When the trooper pulled up with emergency lights activated and walked up to the SUV, Negash drove off while the trooper pounded on the window and yelled to try to get him to stop.
Before the trooper could get back to his car and try to catch up to Negash, the SUV collided with a westbound Hyundai Sonata about a half mile east of where the trooper found Negash stopped.
The trooper and an off-duty paramedic gave first aid to Negash and two people in the Sonata. Indianapolis Fire medics also responded, but all three people in the two Hyundais were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Hyundai Sonata was identified as 34-year-old Jepthah Lian of Indianapolis. The passenger's identity has not been shared since family notification has not been made.
State Police investigators believe alcohol may have contributed to the crash. Blood test results are pending.
All lanes were back open at 9 a.m.