An Elkhart man crashed a stolen car on the Indiana Toll Road told police felt like he was in a “dream”.
The collision happened around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sep. 13, on west bound I-80/90 at the Rolling Prairie Service Plaza.
Evidence showed and witnesses told police Joshua Gene Aaron, 35, was driving the Kia was at a high rate of speed when he tried to get off the interstate and enter the travel plaza, according to a news release from Indiana State Police.
The Kia went off the roadway, drove over a concrete curb, and went airborne into a traffic sign that was at the beginning of the plaza. After hitting the sign the Kia overturned in the rocky median between the gas pumps and the service plaza.
Aaron gave a false name and birthday to the trooper who learned that the Kia was reported stolen out of Elkhart County, the news release stated.
Aaron was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend where he was unruly and disturbing other patients, the news release stated.
Aaron was later found to be in possession of twelve credit cards belonging to the owner of the stolen Kia, the news release stated.
Aaron was later released from the hospital and taken to LaPorte County Jail where he was charged with vehicle theft, unauthorized control of a motor vehicle, identity deception, theft of property, disorderly conduct, and false informing.
Alcohol/drugs may be a factor in this crash. Toxicology results are pending.
Editor’s note: After the Indiana State Police issued the original news release, the brother of the suspect contacted the state police to advise that Matthew J. Aaron was not the person who was in custody. The person in custody was actually Joshua Gene Aaron, 35. Joshua used his brother’s information to identify himself.
The story above has been corrected based on the new information provided by the Indiana State Police.
