Smith
A stretch of U.S. 31 could be renamed for Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith.
State Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, recently presented a proposal to rename the section of U.S. 31 between Smith Valley Road and County Line Road after the Johnson County native fallen trooper. Davis introduced that proposal during a Thursday Interim Study Committee on Roads and Transportation meeting.
The interim study committee is still reviewing the proposal and if members support the proposal, Davis plans to file a formal resolution for consideration and adoption by the House and Senate during the 2025 legislative session. Once a renaming resolution passes through the Indiana General Assembly, the Indiana Department of Transportation can move forward with the project, her office said in a news release on the proposal.
Smith grew up in Greenwood and graduated from Whiteland Community High School in 2008. He later served in the U.S. Army National Guard and received awards for his service. He worked for ISP for five years before his death and earned two Lifesaving Awards during that time. He lived in Franklin with his wife at the time of his death.
Smith was struck by a fleeing vehicle after deploying stop sticks to slow down the pursuit of a stolen vehicle on Ronald Reagan Parkway in Hendricks County. He succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
“State Trooper Aaron Smith embodied the true spirit of public service, dedicating his life to protecting others both in the military and as a member of the Indiana State Police,” Davis said. “Trooper Smith went above and beyond in any duty that called. Renaming a portion of this road in his honor will stand as a lasting tribute to his remarkable commitment and the ultimate sacrifice he made in the line of duty.”
