Stonewall Democrats' President Injured In Fatal Accident

Aaron Schaler, President of the Indiana Stonewall Democrats, suffered injuries in a fatal accident that killed another pedestrian. According to the Star, Schaler and another unidentified person were struck by a van driven by a 20-year old man, Joseph Anthony Scott Crandall, in the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis last night about 8:20 p.m. The unidentified person was pronounced dead at the scene. Schaler was transported to Wishard Hospital where he was reported to be in stable condition. Alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash according to the Star. Fox 59 New reports the driver was in a rush to get to the airport when his vehicle jumped the curb and struck the victims:

Crandall told police he had just eight minutes to get to the airport.

“There’s no way you’re gonna make it to the airport in eight minutes from this location… just know that you’re gonna be late and uh, deal with it that way,” said IMPD Officer Kendale Adams. “Certainly when we’re rushing and trying to get to another location and we have this type of result, it’s just tragic.”

Investigators don’t believe drug or alcohol played a factor a in the crash, but they took a blood draw from Crandall just to be sure.
 

UPDATE: The Star has identified the deceased victim as 22-year old Brian Benson. The updated story provides more details, indicating the high rate of speed the van was traveling when it struck Benson and Schaler. Not a pretty sight:

Police said the 1989 red Dodge van, driven by Joseph Anthony Scott Crandall, 20, Indianapolis, was turning west from Shelby Street to Prospect Street when it jumped the curb and hit the men. The impact hurled Schaler 22 feet into a parked car on the south side of Prospect, the IMPD report said.

Benson was stuck under the van and was dragged about 67 feet west on Prospect. After Benson was dislodged, Crandall drove about 50 feet before he tried to brake, the report said. The van skidded about 94 more feet before it stopped.