Off-duty Hendricks Co. deputy hits, kills person with police vehicle on I-74
Update: This article was updated on Aug. 21, 2023, with more information on the deceased. It was also updated with the identity of the driver in the crash on Aug. 22, 2023.
An off-duty Hendricks County Sheriff’s deputy fatally struck a man on Interstate 74 early morning Aug. 14, 2023, according to officials.
The crash occurred about 1:30 a.m. on I-74, near Brownsburg. An early investigation by the Brownsburg Police Department revealed the deputy was driving east on the interstate in their marked police vehicle when a man, for reasons that weren’t immediately clear, walked into the Dodge Charger's path.
The man killed was identified as 21-year-old Mateo Ruiz-Gomez of Mexico by the Hendricks County Coroner’s Office and the Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis
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The driver was identified as Deputy Damen Owens, who has worked for the sheriff's office for five years.
Brownsburg police said the deputy showed no signs of impairment. The Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office has launched an internal investigation, per policy, to review the crash. The deputy has also been placed on administrative leave, as is usual when a law enforcement official is involved in such incidents.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Brownsburg police at 317-852-1109 ext. 2123.
Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Off-duty Hendricks Co. deputy fatally hits person with vehicle on I-74
