An Indiana State Trooper was killed Wednesday evening in Hendricks County.

It was near the town of Plainfield where Trooper Aaron Smith was killed during a police chase along Ronald Reagan Parkway. ISP Superintendent Doug Carter said that Smith was hit and killed.

State police have charged two people for the trooper’s death. Eddie P. Jones, Jr., 18, from Sikeston, Missouri, has been charged with murder as he was driving the stolen Chevy Traverse that hit Trooper Smith. DeMareon L. Curry, 19, who was in the car with Jones is also charged with auto theft. There was a 15-year-old girl in the car, as well. She was not charged.

Gov. Holcomb’s statement regarding the fallen trooper: 

“Janet and I offer our deepest condolences to the wife, family and close friends of Trooper Aaron Smith.

Trooper Smith lived and died a hero. His everlasting inspiration is a painful reminder of what the best among us sacrifice everyday when they leave the house. I encourage every Hoosier so inclined to right now stop and shower Trooper Smith’s bride with prayer and be there for his fellow law enforcement members so shaken by this heartbreaking loss.”

“Smith’s shift partner saw the whole thing happen. He have, obviously, in car camera footage, we have body camera footage. That’s all being reviewed.” Carter said.

The collision happened around 8:40 p.m. near Plainfield.

“He’d been on the department about five years,” Carter said holding back tears. “He didn’t survive tonight. He has a young wife who is absolutely adorable. I would trade places if I could take away her pain.”

Trooper Aaron Smith being escorted from Eskenazi Hospital to the Marion County Coroner’s Office flanked by his brothers and sisters in blue.@IMPDnews @ISPChiefPIO @ISPIndianapolis pic.twitter.com/WUdRn47Y28

— Indiana State Police (@IndStatePolice) June 29, 2023

Troopers have yet to release any details on who the suspect was and who was driving the car that hit Smith.

Smith was a native of Whiteland and a 2008 graduate of Whiteland High School. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation/airway management with a minor in unmanned aerial systems from Indiana State University in 2014. He joined the Army National Guard in 2011 and previously worked in construction and insurance.

Smith is the second state trooper to be hit and killed by a suspect in a fleeing car this year. In March, Senior Trooper James Bailey was hit and killed while deploying tire-deflating devices on I-69 in DeKalb County.