Full Notification

On October 26, 2014 at approximately 12:16 a.m., police officers from the Noblesville Police Department witnessed a motor vehicle crash in the 12200 block of E. 141st Street (Noblesville) involving an unoccupied police vehicle and another vehicle containing three (3) occupants.

Based on witness statements and evidence at the scene, preliminary information suggests that a 1999 Saturn 2-door, passenger vehicle was traveling eastbound on 141st Street when it collided into the rear of an unoccupied 2013 Chevy Tahoe police vehicle. The police vehicle is registered to the Noblesville Police Department (City of Noblesville) and the officer assigned to the vehicle was taking part in an unrelated warrant service at the time of the crash. Another officer involved in the warrant service was parked and sitting in his police vehicle when he observed the Saturn traveling eastbound in the westbound lane of 141st Street at a speed believed to be above the posted speed limit. The officer stated that the Saturn was traveling on a direct course to collide into his vehicle so he attempted to gain the driver’s attention by flashing his lights. Evidence at the scene suggests that the driver of the Saturn was able to swerve and avoid a collision with the occupied police vehicle but struck the unoccupied police vehicle in the process.

The driver of the Saturn was investigated at the scene for impairment and was subsequently arrested and transported to the Hamilton County Jail. The front seat and backseat passengers were initially transported by ambulance to I.U. Health Saxony Hospital (Fishers) and later by ground ambulance to I.U. Health Methodist Hospital (Indianapolis). The conditions of both passengers were unavailable at the time of this release but neither appeared to be suffering from life-threatening injuries.

The driver is identified as Francisco Velez, 37, of Noblesville (IN). He has been preliminarily charged with two (2) counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated. The front seat passenger is identified as Jonathon A. Sharkey, 39, and the backseat passenger is Maria Sharkey, 40, both of Noblesville (IN).

Members of the Accident Reconstruction Unit were called to the scene to collect evidence and investigate the crash. The intersection of Woods Drive and 141st Street was closed for approximately three (3) hours while investigators gathered information and spoke with witnesses. The case remains an ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Accident Investigator Sgt. Matt McGovern at (317) 773-1300.

Lieutenant Bruce A. Barnes, Public Information Officer
Noblesville Police Department