GRANT CO. – Friday, shortly after 9:00 p.m., a motorcycle crash resulted in the death of a Muncie, IN, man. At the request of the Marion City Police Department, the Indiana State Police initiated an investigation.
The preliminary crash investigation by Indiana State Police Master Trooper Jeremy Perez revealed that deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a motorcycle for a traffic violation committed near State Road 9 and Goff Drive. The rider of the motorcycle, later identified as Garrett William Gaddis, 33, Muncie, IN, was operating a 2006 Ducati café style motorcycle. Gaddis failed to stop for deputies and fled northbound on State Road 9. Deputies of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office pursued Gaddis.
Deputies later disregarded the pursuit near the area of State Road 9 and 40th Street in Marion, deactivating their emergency lights and slowing to disengage. Near the area of 30th Street and State Road 9, officers from the Marion Police Department observed Mr. Gaddis, who was still traveling at a high rate of speed and followed him with their emergency lights.
Just north of 16th Street and State Road 9, at the entrance to McClure Gas Station, a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica was traveling south. The Pacifica, driven by Kenneth Bledson, 36, Marion, IN, was turning into the McClure Gas Station parking lot. Mr. Gaddis struck Mr. Bledson’s vehicle. Both vehicles came to rest in the parking lot of the McClures Gas Station.
Gaddis was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Grant County Coroner’s Office. Bledson and his passenger were transported to Marion Health Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Notification to the family of Mr. Gaddis has been made.
At the crash scene, Perez was assisted by Trooper Abby Russell, Trooper Mario Cruz, and Trooper James Wilkison, the Marion City Fire Department, the Grant County Coroner’s Office, and Grant County EMS.
This is an ongoing investigation, and there is no further information to release at this time.
