Walker killed in Fountain Square ID'd

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Marion County coroner's office has released the identity of the person struck and killed as he walked with a friend on a Fountain Square sidewalk Tuesday night.

Brian Benson, 22, Indianapolis, was killed and his friend, Aaron Schaler, 35, was injured when they were struck by a van in the 1000 block of East Prospect Street.

According to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department accident report, Joseph Crandall, 20, said he was westbound on Prospect Street and stopped at the traffic light at Shelby Street, then continued west on Prospect Street when the light turned green. When he got to the west side of the intersection, his vehicle suddenly veered to the left and jumped the curb.

Witnesses told police they observed the vehicle going at a high rate of speed, jump the curb, drive on the sidewalk and strike the two pedestrians as they walked west on the south side of the street.

The report goes on to say that when Schaler was struck he was flung approximately 22 feet, landing against and then underneath a parked vehicle.

Crandall's vehicle continued traveling west, dragging Benson under the vehicle for about 67 feet before he became dislodged.

Crandall's vehicle reportedly traveled another 50 feet before he applied the vehicle's brakes. Once the brakes were applied, the van skidded approximately 94 feet  before coming to rest.

Schaler was transported to Wishard Memorial Hospital in stable condition with minor bleeding to his head.