INDIANAPOLIS — A 29-year-old man and his dog are dead following a single-vehicle crash on the west side of Indianapolis Friday morning.
Indiana State Police were called to a reported crash on I-465 northbound at mile marker 11 around 1 a.m. Friday. Once arrived, an ISP trooper found the driver of a van, later identified at Dustin Gilmer, entrapped in the wreckage and unresponsive. His companion and aide, Carver, also died in the crash.
The Indianapolis Fire Department and EMS responded to the crash and, despite life-saving efforts, pronounced Gilmer dead at the scene.
According to investigators, Gilmer's van ran off the right side of the road, and then came back across all four lanes of the highway and struck the concrete median divider.
Investigators say it is still unclear at the time of this reporting what the cause of the incident was. Alcohol is also not believed to have been a factor in the crash.
Gilmer was the Indiana Department of Public Works' Office of Disability Affairs Manager. DPW released the following statement to RTV6 following his passing.
"It is with a heavy heart I share the news that Dustin Gilmer, DPW Employee and Office of Disability Affairs Manager, has passed. Early this morning, Dustin was involved in a single-vehicle accident on I-465 and did not survive. His aide and faithful canine companion, Carver, also perished in the accident.
Those who knew Dustin will remember him for his incredible personality, his infectious attitude, and his commitment to making Indianapolis a better place. He joined the city’s Office of Disability Affairs as an intern in 2015 and officially joined the team as a project manager one year later. Since then, he worked diligently to connect Indianapolis citizens with disabilities to city services and resources to improve their quality of life. As a proud Ball State Alumni, he was dedicated to his work, driven in his community partnerships, and truly never met an obstacle he couldn’t surpass. Dustin loved this city, his Indianapolis Colts, and everyone he met. Our department, and our community, are better places because of him. We are grateful for his and Carver’s service to the city of Indianapolis and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and loved ones."
RTV6's Marc Mullins reported about Gilmer in 2017 after people left crude and insulting remarks written all over his van at a local restaurant.
Gilmer was active in the Indianapolis community and spread disability awareness as an advocate and disabled person.
In the interview with RTV6, Gilmer said, “Sometimes when people with disabilities do things, it’s not to be mean or a hassle to other people. It’s because we have to. These are the things we have to do in order to have the things everyone else does.”
