INDIANAPOLIS — A woman was pronounced dead following a suspected drunk driving crash in the 8200 block of Madison Avenue on Thursday, Oct. 26.
The man driving in the other car, police say, fled the scene before being taken into custody by IMPD officers. The suspect is accused of driving under the influence.
(NOTE: 13News does not name suspects until charges have been filed by prosecutors.)
13News spoke to two people who worked at a hair salon in the strip mall near the crash. They said they the victim was leaving a hair appointment moments before she was killed.
"We did love her, we really did," said Connie Bowling, the owner of Creative Haircare. She said 88-year-old Florence Ausbrooks came in every week.
"We tell all of our clients they're not customers to us, they're our family," Bowling said. "She was absolutely our beauty shop family."
Thursday night, they had just said their goodbyes after Ausbrooks's appointment.
"Carolyn had just finished her hair, and she left, and the next thing I knew, I was doing a haircut," Bowling said. "I looked out and saw a fire truck across Madison Avenue, and I told Carolyn, 'Something bad has happened out here.' We went out there and noticed it was her car, and that's when it really hit us."
Bowling said Ausbrook's husband and son had passed away. She's been trying to get in touch with Ausbrooks's daughter, the only family they're aware of.
"They hadn't spoken in years, but I hope and pray that this finds Sheila," Bowling said. "Your mom did love you. If they do find you, she did love you."
The suspect is a 48-year-old man. He's preliminarily charged with driving under the influence causing death, failure to stop causing death and resisting law enforcement.