Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Struck by vehicle
Date/Time of Incident:
10:30 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
445 North County Road 25 East, North Vernon
Incident County:
Incident Township:
Weapon Used:
Suspect Disposition:
Burial Place:
Westport Cemetery, Westport

Reserve Deputy Gerald Martin was struck and killed by a race car while working a security detail at the Twin Cities Speedway near Vernon.

While he was speaking with a subject regarding an argument with two others at the track, he was struck from behind by a race car. The race car's accelerator apparently stuck when coming around the outside turn of the track.

The driver lost control and the vehicle went over the curve, end over end, before striking all four individuals. Reserve Deputy Martin died a short time later at Jennings Community Hospital from his injuries that also killed the subject he was speaking with.

Reserve Deputy Martin had also served as a dispatcher with the North Vernon Police Department. He was survived by a son, three daughters, parents, brother and four grandchildren.

This officer, discovered in 2005, has not been submitted for consideration as an eligible line of duty death to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund by the Jennings County Sheriff's Department.
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