Deadly motorcycle hit-and-run case still haunts family, Carmel police
CARMEL, Ind (WISH) – After nearly a decade of no arrests, a Hamilton County family and the police department are looking to bring an end to a case that’s haunted them both.
Each day, thousands of drivers go through the 96th Street and Meridian Street intersection. It’s a spot filled with optimism as the area grows.
But it’s not all joyful. Strung on a pole sits a reminder of the intersection’s painful past.
On July 20, 2006, Ron Obsitnick was hit as he drove his motorcycle through the intersection. As he lay dying in the road, officers say the person who hit him took off.
Ten years later, it doesn’t get any easier for Ron’s sister, Michelle Eurick, to talk about. “In my eyes that is cruel, cold hearted, and I don’t see how anybody could do that to somebody,” Eurick said.
“He’s got two grandkids that he’s never got to see,” Eurick added. “He didn’t get to see his son graduate high school. He didn’t get to see his son get married.”
The case isn’t only on the minds of Ron’s loved ones. “To me, it’s one of the top cases that I think about,” Carmel Police Department Lt. Joseph Bickel said.
Lt. Bickel was on patrol that night. “We were doing everything we could to help solve this crime,” Lt. Bickel said.
Marion and Hamilton County officers responded. It was a case they wanted to solve.
Obstinick was not an unknown victim to the law enforcement community. He worked part time at Carmel High School as a school resource officer.
“It was a very emotional time for several officers,” Bickel added.
Witnesses told them a black sports car hit Ron. Using crash evidence, officers attempted to determine exactly what type of car was used.
“They actually went out to, I think a junkyard in the northern part of Hamilton County, and was able to determine this was the exact type of marker light that’s on a Toyota Celica,” Lt. Bickel said.
Not just any Celica, but a 1990 through 1993 model with a fin on the back. Officers have chased several leads, including one a few years ago, but they have never found anything concrete.
Officers tried a number of tactics to get information, including returning to the scene several weeks later at the same day and time of the accident. They handed out flyers and talked to drivers, hoping to jog someone’s memory.
“It’s basically a case that has no further leads at this point,” Bickel said.
That’s not what Ron’s family wants to hear. As the years have gone on, his memory hasn’t faded.
“He could make a bad day turn into a great day, just like that,” Eurick said.
After a decade of frustration, Eurick holds out hope that answers will come soon. “Let us know why you didn’t come forward,” Eurick said. “Why you didn’t call for the help for him.”
And instead, the unknown driver left her with the painful reminder. “We just want to know what happened,” Eurick said,
If you have any information, call Carmel police at 317-571-2580 or remain anonymous at 262-TIPS.
