Indianapolis police arrested a driver within hours after a hit-and-run that killed a 9-year-old boy and injured a 5-year-old, FOX 9 reported on October 5, 2026. Officers interviewed neighbors and found video that gave a description of the vehicle and its plate number. A license plate reader then showed the vehicle’s last known location, officers found it a short time later, and the driver was taken into custody.
At a glance
- Agency
- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
- Incident
- Two boys, ages 9 and 5, struck on a Sunday afternoon; the 9-year-old later died
- Time to find vehicle
- Within hours, per police
- Charge
- Leaving the scene of an accident causing death
- Final charges
- To be decided by prosecutors
How the plate reader helped
This is what the report says about the technology’s role.
- Officers interviewed neighbors and found video that gave a vehicle description and plate number.
- A license plate reader tracked the vehicle within hours and showed its last known location.
- Officers located the vehicle shortly afterward and took the driver into custody.
The outcome
- The driver was arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing death; prosecutors will make the final charging decision.
In the news
“Using an automated license plate reader, police were able to track the vehicle in just hours, learning the vehicle's last known location.”
The excerpt is quoted word for word. The rest of this page paraphrases the same report, so names, dates and figures are the reporter’s or the agency’s, not ours. Where a report does not say something, we do not guess.
Context and caveats
- The report is based on information from the police department. The driver’s identity and the time of arrest were not stated.
License plate readers are one investigative tool among several. They flag vehicles and give investigators leads; officers, detectives and the public do the rest, and every lead still has to be verified. For how agencies govern the technology, see our policy and data-retention guide and the accuracy guide.
How Intelvi AI fits
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Frequently asked questions
How quickly was the Indianapolis driver found?
Police said a license plate reader let them track the vehicle in just hours.
What helped identify the vehicle in the first place?
Interviews with neighbors and available video gave a description of the vehicle and its plate number.