INDIANAPOLIS -- A man who admitted to striking and critically injuring an Indiana State Police trooper on I-65 southbound in January has been sentenced to serve two years in prison.
According to online court records, Armaandeep Singh, 22, pled guilty to one count of causing serious bodily injury while driving intoxicated, which is a level 5 felony.
In exchange for pleading guilty to that charge, the state will dismiss the following charges that were initially filed against Singh:
- Causing serious bodily injury operating a vehicle with an ACE of .08 or more, level 5 felony
- Reckless driving causing bodily injury, misdemeanor charge
As part of the plea deal, Singh had two other pending charges against him dropped and was sentenced to a total of five years, with two of those being spent in prison and three years suspended with two years on probation. As part of his sentencing, Singh must also undergo substance use evaluations and treatment.
Singh's driver's license has also been suspended for two additional years upon his release from prison.
According to previous reports, a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox that Singh was operating reportedly struck Trooper Azariah Keith on Jan. 20 while Keith was helping a motorist change a tire on I-65 SB near 30th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The incident occurred around 9:17 p.m.
Police initially arrested and preliminarily charged Singh with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, operating a vehicle with an ACE of .15 or more and reckless driving.
ISP said at the time that an additional trooper had responded to the area to assist Keith. That trooper had blocked the left lane of the interstate while Keith continued changing the tire for the motorist.
Keith was released from Eskenazi Hospital after spending 17 days in the hospital. ISP said at the time that Keith has "a long road to recovery but remains optimistic and in good spirits.”