By Shawn Henry 
Court records released Wednesday provide a detailed account of how investigators identified two alleged street racers accused of causing a deadly crash earlier this month on Indianapolis’ west side.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were dispatched around 8:12 a.m. on Dec. 11 to the intersection of North Lynhurst Drive and West Vermont Street. At the scene, police found a black 2009 Chevrolet Colorado and a 2003 Ford Mustang that appeared to have been involved in a serious collision.
Members of the Speedway Fire Department told officers they had extinguished a fire that broke out after the crash. Firefighters said a driver was inside the Chevrolet Colorado while crews worked to put out the flames. Medics later pronounced the driver dead at the scene. As of publication, the Marion County Coroner’s Office had not released the driver’s identity.
Investigators soon obtained video footage showing a white 2010 Nissan Altima and the Mustang traveling south on North Lynhurst Drive toward Vermont Street just before the crash. The vehicles appeared staggered across lanes and were moving at high speeds, disrupting otherwise normal traffic flow. As the Colorado entered the intersection and attempted a left turn during a red light, both the Mustang and Altima ran the light and entered the intersection. The Mustang struck the Colorado on the passenger side, forcing the truck off the road, where it caught fire.
Video showed the Altima returning to the scene roughly 36 seconds later. The Mustang’s driver exited the damaged car, briefly returned to retrieve something, then entered the Altima before leaving. Additional footage showed the Altima driving southbound in northbound lanes and cutting through yards to flee the area.
A witness later told police the Mustang and Altima were traveling between 60 and 70 mph and appeared to be racing.
The investigation led officers to a residence on West 66th Street, where the Mustang’s registered owner lived and reported the vehicle missing. Police found a white Altima in the driveway matching the crash vehicle and arrested its occupant, later identified as Ricardo Martinez-Valades. Inside the home, officers located Angel Osuvaldo-Franco, whose clothing matched that of the Mustang’s driver seen in video.
Police later learned the Mustang had been registered in the owner’s name in exchange for payment from Osuvaldo-Franco. Martinez-Valades told police he and Osuvaldo-Franco are stepbrothers and said he picked him up after the crash.
Both men were booked into the Marion County Jail and face multiple felony charges, including reckless homicide. They are scheduled for initial hearings on Dec. 19 and are being held on federal detainers.
All parties are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Source
John