Street racers charged in fatal west side crash tried to report damaged car as stolen, police say

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The two men arrested in a fiery street racing crash that in one fatality never received their driver’s licenses and initially tried to report their damaged car stolen, according to police.

News 8 previously reported on the crash Dec. 11.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Saturnino Garcia Hernandez died shortly after 8 a.m. Dec. 11 after his Chevy Colorado was hit by street racers on the city’s west side. Court documents say coroners determined Garcia’s cause of death as “thermal injuries.”

Crash caught on camera

During the investigation, detectives obtained video of the accident from witnesses. On camera, Garcia is seen waiting at a green light to turn left onto Vermont Street. The light turns red, and Garcia moves to clear the intersection.

As Garcia is turning, two vehicles – a black Chevy Mustang and a white Nissan Altima – are seen driving “at least 70 mph” down South Lynhurst Drive.

Officers noted the speed limit in this area is 35 mph.

The vehicles run the red light, and the Mustang collides with the passenger side of Garcia’s pickup truck. The pickup truck catches fire, trapping Garcia Hernandez inside. First r...