Following a request from the Frankfort Police Department, the Indiana State Police has announced that an investigation has been launched into a single-vehicle fatal crash that occurred Tuesday morning.
The department stated that preliminary findings by Trooper Garrett Schroder reportedly indicated that just before 2:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, a Frankfort Police officer attempted to locate a vehicle following reports from community members that the vehicle had been driving recklessly.
The officer reportedly identified a 2004 Dodge Durango that matched the description of the reckless driving vehicle near the Walmart on State Road 28 in Frankfort, which sparked the officer to attempt a traffic stop, leading to the driver of the Durango failing to comply and fleeing eastbound on State Road 28.
The department reported that a pursuit continued eastbound on State Road 28 toward County Road 250 East when the vehicle began to veer toward the south side of the roadway, overcorrecting and running off the north side of the road where the vehicle rolled over before coming to rest.
Despite lifesaving efforts by emergency personnel, one occupant was reportedly pronounced deceased at the scene by the Clinton County Coroner, and the other occupant in the vehicle was airlifted by a medical helicopter to an Indianapolis-area hospital. The department stated that the identity of the occupants is being withheld pending positive identification and investigative efforts.
The incident remains as an active and ongoing investigation, and no further details will be released by the Indiana State Police at this time.
Frankfort Police Department Chief Scott Shoemaker’s Statement:
First, we are keeping the juveniles, their families and first responders in our thoughts and prayers. We are saddened by the loss that occurred during this tragedy.
Second, I have asked the Indiana State Police to conduct the crash investigation to be fully transparent on the cause and manner of the crash.
Our agency received a 911 call of a vehicle reported to be driving on a curb, a sidewalk and appeared to side-swipe a vehicle. This call came into Clinton County Central Dispatch at 2:32 AM and was reported in the area of Hoke and Washington Ave. Our officer located the vehicle at approximately 2:38 a.m. near the Murphy’s Oil (2400 Block E Wabash St) gas station.
The officer drove towards the vehicle to investigate the 911 complaint. The vehicle drove away from the officer and exited the gas station parking lot. It went through the red light and headed east. The officer then reported a pursuit eastbound from Walmart. Twenty-five seconds later, the vehicle crashed.
I will provide further information after the crash investigation by the Indiana State Police is complete.