Officer Nathan Lincks 42, was killed in a vehicle crash at about 5:20 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 1977.  Lincks, a veteran of almost 17 years on the police force, was en route to the Thatcher Community Center, 4649 West Vermont Street, to help direct a youth recreation program of the Police Athletic League (PAL) Club, to which he had been assigned for six years.

The crash happened in front of the LaRue Carter Hospital parking lot on West 10th Street and was triggered by a dark green or blue car which sped suddenly from the parking lot into the path of a westbound Metro bus.  Lincks, who was eastbound on 10th Street, stopped his car, a 1972 Ford LTD, when he saw the bus swerve into his lane after the bus driver applied the brakes.  The bus skidded on the rain-slicked street, striking Lincks' car head on.

Lincks was pronounced dead at the scene.  A passenger in his car, Darvin King, a young Army veteran believed to have been a pedestrian to whom Lincks gave a lift on a rainy day, died at nearby Wishard Hospital about one hour after the crash.  Teresa Smith witnessed the accident while driving and stopped her car.  She radioed for help on Lincks' walkie talkie and helped give first aid to King.  Twenty police cars arrived at the scene in response to the call.

Officer Lincks, a native of London, Kentucky, joined the police force in February 1961.  He was survived by his wife and two sons.  He is buried in Floral Park Cemetery West in Indianapolis.

Source: Source:  Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis News, October 26, 27, and 28, 1977