INDIANAPOLIS — Prosecutors have charged a man from Houston, Texas, after three pedestrians were struck in a hit-and-run crash early Saturday morning in downtown Indianapolis.
Salvador Banales, 27, is facing the following charges:
- Two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury
- One count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death
- One count of causing catastrophic injury when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated
- One count of causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated
- Two counts of leaving the scene of an accident
- One count of false informing
Banales had his initial court hearing Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty.
At a bond hearing in March, the judge determined Banales can travel from Indianapolis to his home in Houston if he pays his full bond, which was set at $160,000. However, the judge ruled Banales must surrender his passport to the court and sign a waiver of extradition if he leaves Indianapolis.
His jury trial has initially been set for June 24.
The judge said Banales' maximum sentence is up to 40 years, if convicted on all charges.
Around 2 a.m. March 9, IMPD officers responded to the intersection of Massachusetts and North College avenues on a report of the hit-and-run crash involving three pedestrians.
Police believe Banales was traveling south on North College Avenue and hit three people as they stood on the southwest corner of the intersection.
All three pedestrians were taken to local hospitals, one in critical condition and two described as "stable" by police.
On Monday, March 11, the Marion County Coroner's Office said 27-year-old Brandon James Breedlove had died following the crash.
According to court documents, surveillance footage from a nearby business showed a southbound 2020-2022 Ford Mustang traveling at a high rate of speed hit three pedestrians and then continue driving south of College Avenue without stopping to check on the victims.
Around nine hours after the crash, police responded to a report of a vandalism to a vehicle. Banales allegedly told police he was at an Indianapolis bar from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and when he went out to his rental car, a 2022 red Ford Mustang, he said someone had hit it or possibly vandalized it. According to court documents, Banales said he needed a report for insurance because he was turning in the rental car at the airport and flying back to Texas that day.
Officers then spoke with detectives, who confirmed thee suspect vehicle in the hit-and-run crash on Mass Ave was a 2022 red Ford Mustang.
The detective then called Indianapolis Airport Police and the rental car company to have them secure the vehicle, which had been returned. The detective said the damage to the Ford Mustang was consistent with hitting a pedestrian, as well as missing pieces that were left at the crash scene.
Court documents say officers located and detained Banales as he was trying to board a flight to Houston.
Detectives spoke with Banales, who allegedly said he was in Indianapolis for a work convention.
Court documents say Banales told detectives he left a bar at 1:30 a.m. to go back to his hotel and was unfamiliar with the area. When asked if he hit anything, Banales allegedly responded, "I did. To this point, I still don't know. I just took off. I took off out of fear and panic." Banales allegedly told police he went back to his hotel, where he called 911 to have an officer "check it out," but "passed out" and fell asleep while waiting and never spoke to police.
When detectives spoke to Banales 13 hours after the crash, they said his breath and body still smelled strongly of alcohol.
Detectives asked why he didn't stop, and Banales allegedly told them, "I should've stopped. I just left. I didn't think about it. I was just scared for what I'd done. I just made some bad decisions."
After speaking with Banales, detectives arrested him for his alleged role in the incident.
"It's really unfortunate those people were probably out having fun, and I hate that it happened," said Elizabeth Schmidt, a witness and employee at a nearby candle store. "As much as we want to believe this is a really safe area, obviously, bad drives ruin it for a lot of people."