INDIANAPOLIS -- An altercation preceded the deadly crash on I-70 Tuesday night that claimed the lives of two Ben Davis High School students and injured three others, according to Indiana State Police.
The crash happened on I-70 near Harding Street around 9:15 p.m. when a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder slid into the grass and rolled several times.
All five people were ejected from the vehicle. They were not wearing seatbelts during the time of the crash, investigators said.
Investigators said Thursday they determined there was some sort of altercation at Rhodius Park between the people in the car and others at the park.
Witnesses told police the driver of a second vehicle, who was also at the park, appeared to be chasing the victims, however, ISP has not determined if that vehicle was in fact involved. Police said the second vehicle and driver have been located.
Brandon Gross, 18, and Taylor Parsons, 17, were killed in the crash. Both attended Ben Davis High School.
"Taylor wouldn't have been in that situation. She wouldn't have been going 90 on I-70 if she wasn't being chased. None of this would have happened if she wasn't being chased," said Kassie Ferguson, Taylor Parson's cousin. "I saw her that day, we both said 'I love you' to each other."
"That's the purpose of our investigation is to try and determine exactly what happened from the time those teenagers left the park to the time the tragic crash happened on I-70," said Sgt. John Perrine, Indiana State Police.
Kristopher Church, 17, Michael Blackmore, 19, and Olivia Evans, 18, are hospitalized. School officials say Evans attends Ben Davis, and Church and Blackmore are former Ben Davis students.
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Detectives believe the Pathfinder was moving too fast in the left lane of eastbound I-70 when the driver crossed three lanes in an attempt to exit at Harding Street.
Indiana State Police said Thursday they have no more information to release at this time and their investigation is ongoing.
