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Total of 3 people, including 12-year-old girl, now dead after wrong-way I-465 crash in Indianapolis

"Those people shouldn’t have lost their lives that day."
Posted at 10:08 AM, Sep 20, 2022
and last updated 2022-09-21 17:42:48-04

INDIANAPOLIS — A total of three people, including a 12-year-old girl and a suspected wrong-way driver have now died from injuries they suffered in crash over the weekend on the entrance ramp to Interstate 465 off Rockville Road following a police pursuit.

The Marion County Coroner's office identified the three people who died in the crash as Georgia Tetmeyer, 12; Cody Lemasters, 35; and William Tetmeyer, 40.

Lemasters was the suspected wrong-way driver, according to police.

In the crash's immediate aftermath Saturday, officials said one person died and others were seriously injured. Georgia Tetmeyer and Lemasters both died Monday, according to the coroner's office.

According to Speedway Schools, Georgia was a student in the district.

"Our Speedway School family is in mourning after learning of the loss of one of our Junior High School students on Monday, and the passing of her father on Saturday from a car crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family. We will continue to support students with extra counselors in our buildings," the district said in a statement to WRTV. "We are so thankful for the Speedway community coming together to support this family while also respecting their need for privacy in these most difficult times."

Multiple units from Wayne Township, Decatur Township, Indianapolis and Indiana State Police responded to the scene around 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer William Young says the crash happened following a police pursuit.

According to Young, officers from the IMPD SW District Violence Reduction Team and Violent Crimes Task Force were conducting an investigation prior to the pursuit. During the course of the pursuit, the suspect vehicle fled northbound in the southbound lanes of I-465. Preliminary information suggests that at least one officer followed the suspect onto the interstate before the pursuit was terminated by the on-shift supervisor.

RELATED | Police chase leads to wrong-way crash killing one, injuring children

Police say Lemasters continued to flee the wrong direction on I-465 after the pursuit was terminated and attempted to exit the interstate going the wrong direction on the SB entrance ramp at Rockville Road, striking the other vehicle.

Young says multiple witnesses stayed on the scene to provide information to investigators.

During the course of the incident, body camera footage was also activated and will be reviewed, according to Young.

The crash remains under investigation by IMPD accident investigators.

WRTV's Katie Cox and Adam Schumes contributed to this report.