Indianapolis, IN (September 26, 2026) – A 33-year-old Haughville woman was struck and killed by a vehicle in a convenience store parking lot on the city’s west side Saturday night, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Police said the crash happened around 8:30 p.m. on September 26 near West 16th Street, between North Tibbs Avenue and North Centennial Street.
IMPD said Tamara Renee Thomas, 33, was in the parking lot waiting to catch a ride from her two brothers when she was struck by the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the driver left the scene after the crash but was arrested hours later.
According to court documents, officers observed the driver, identified as Edwin Alexander Sosa Gonzalez, 22, slurring his speech, stumbling, and smelling of alcohol. His blood alcohol concentration was recorded at .229, according to court records, well above Indiana’s legal limit of .08.
IMPD said Sosa Gonzalez is charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing death and operating while intoxicated causing death. Marion County Jail records show he is also being held on an ICE detainer.
Fatal Hit-and-Run Accidents in Indiana
A hit-and-run crash leaves a family with grief and a criminal case running on its own timeline.
- Who may be liable: the driver charged in the crash, though the criminal case proceeds separately from any civil claim the family can bring
- A civil claim can pursue compensation for the family’s loss, and it does not have to wait on the outcome of the criminal charges
- Because a hit-and-run driver’s insurance coverage isn’t always available, a claim may also draw on the victim’s own uninsured motorist coverage
- Wrongful death claims in Indiana generally must be filed within two years of the date of death (IC 34-23-1-1), which puts the deadline at September 26, 2028
Contact Our Indiana Wrongful Death Attorneys
Losing a family member to a driver who kept going instead of stopping to help is a particular kind of pain, made worse by watching a criminal case unfold while your own questions about accountability go unanswered.
Our Indiana wrongful death attorneys have represented families after hit-and-run and drunk driving crashes, and we know the civil case does not have to wait on the criminal one to move forward.
Surveillance footage from the parking lot and nearby businesses, along with the toxicology results already in the court record, are evidence worth preserving now.
We work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost and nothing owed unless we recover for your family.
Why Indiana families trust Langer & Langer:
- Founded in 1980, serving Indiana families for over 45 years
- 100+ years of combined legal experience
- Recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and the American College of Trial Lawyers
Talk With an Indiana Wrongful Death Attorney at 219-245-5881
