Funeral, procession route for slain Trooper Aaron Smith
An Indiana State Police trooper will receive police and military honors at a funeral in Greenwood on Friday, July 7, after he was killed by a fleeing driver last week.
Trooper Aaron N. Smith, 33, had been with the state police about five years. He was also a member of the Indiana National Guard since 2011.
A visitation will occur 2-6 p.m. Thursday at Emmanuel Church Greenwood Campus, 1640 West Stones Crossing Road in Greenwood. The funeral will take place at the same location at 11 a.m. Friday.
Following the funeral, a police procession will escort Smith’s body to Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. Smith will be buried in the Heroes of Public Safety area at the cemetery.
The procession route for Trooper Aaron N. Smith
Indiana State Police encourage residents to line the procession route "to honor Trooper Smith's sacrifice and support his family, friends and co-workers."
The tradition of passing under a Garrison Flag will occur near Whiteland High School on U.S. 31 just north of Whiteland Road and people are asked to park in the southwest parking lot of the high school.
Start at Emmanuel Church of Greenwood, 1640 West Stones Crossing Road, Greenwood
Exit the church lot and turn west onto West Stones Crossing Road to State Road 135.
South on State Road 135 to Whiteland Road.
East on Whiteland Road to U.S. 31
North on U.S. 31 where we will go by Whiteland High School and pass under the Garrison Flag. The procession will continue north into Greenwood then make a small right onto South Madison Ave.
North on South Madison Avenue to the roundabout, first exit east, Smith Valley Road. Continue east on Smith Valley Road where we will pass by the neighborhood where Trooper Smith grew up.
East on Smith Valley Road and as you make the curve to left it turns into northbound South Emerson Avenue.
Continue north on South Emerson Avenue where we will pass by Greenwood Airport to the left, to Stop 11 Road.
West on to Stop 11 Road, which turns into East Meridian School Road at East Street. Continue west to State Road 135.
North on State Road 135 to Hanna Avenue
West on Hanna Avenue to Bluff Road
North on Bluff Road to where it turns into West Street.
Continue north on West Street passing IFD Station 13 at West Street and Ohio Street. Continue north on West Street to New York Street.
East on New York Street to Illinois Street.
North on Illinois Street to 34th Street.
West on 34th Street to the entrance of Crown Hill Cemetery.
Note: The ramps from I-65 to Main Street and I-65 to County Line Road will be closed during the procession. The ramp from I-70 to West Street in Indianapolis will also be closed during the procession.
'A shining star': Trooper slain trying to stop fleeing car saved 2 lives in 2022, served in National Guard
How Trooper Aaron Smith was killed
He was killed in after being struck by a fleeing vehicle north of Interstate 70 on Ronald Reagan Parkway, just outside of Indianapolis in Plainfield on June 28.
More: Trooper slain trying to stop fleeing car saved 2 lives in 2022, served in National Guard
He was assisting in stopping the pursuit of a stolen 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. Video from a traffic camera reviewed by IndyStar showed the Chevrolet turning toward Smith as he was throwing stop sticks onto the road.
Two Missouri men were arrested in connection with the crash. The driver of the vehicle, 18-year-old Eddie Jones Jr., is facing a preliminary charge of murder.
Who was Trooper Aaron Smith?
Smith was born in Franklin. He graduated from Whiteland Community High School in 2008, where he played football and wrestled, according to his obituary.
He held a private pilot’s license and graduated from Indiana State University in 2014 with a degree in aviation management.
As a trooper, Smith was on the State Police Crash Reconstruction Team and had recently been awarded two lifesaving awards. Smith was a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard, serving as utilities equipment repairer.
He earned several military awards, including the Army Achievement Award and Army Service Ribbon.
Smith attended Emmanuel Church Greenwood Campus, where he and his wife, Megan Smith, assisted with the children’s ministry.
“Aaron also enjoyed smoking a good brisket, flying drones, hunting, and spending time with family and friends,” the obituary reads.
How to help family of fallen trooper Aaron Smith
An account to benefit the family of Trooper Aaron N. Smith has been established at Indiana Members Credit Union.
The account has been set up under “Aaron Smith Memorial Fund.” Donations can be made by stopping at the nearest IMCU branch or by calling 800-556-9268.
Donations also can be made through the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation, 1710 S. 10th St., Noblesville, 317-431-0755.
Donations to the Fallen Heroes fund also can be made online by clicking here.
GoFundMe will not be used as a platform for making donations, officials said Monday.
Contact the reporter at 463-214-7590.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Slain ISP trooper Aaron Smith: Funeral details and procession route
