What happened
An Indiana State Police trooper from the Peru Post attempted to stop a stolen 2015 Dodge pickup on U.S. 24 near Logansport Road in Miami County at about 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026, according to InkFreeNews[1], which reported an Indiana State Police account.
The driver reportedly fled north on U.S. 31 through Fulton County and into Marshall County. Tire deflation devices were deployed twice during the pursuit. At about 2:34 p.m., the pickup left the roadway and struck trees near 12th Road and Sage Trail in rural Marshall County.
InkFreeNews reported that the driver was the sole occupant and the only person injured. He was transported by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in South Bend and then booked into the Miami County Jail on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, theft, and reckless driving. No other vehicle or person was involved. The preliminary charges are allegations, and the investigation remains ongoing.
What drivers should do when a pursuit approaches
A pursuit is a moving road hazard that can arrive with little warning. If you hear a siren or see an emergency vehicle approaching, pull to the right and stop when it is safe. At an intersection, wait rather than accelerating to clear it. A stopped vehicle is easier for officers to anticipate than one moving unpredictably.
Tire deflation devices mean officers are trying to stop a vehicle at a selected location. If you encounter police activity near a roadway, give the area room and follow officers' directions. General guidance about responding to an unexpected road emergency is also available in the firm's article on the steps to take after a crash.
If you witnessed a pursuit crash, note the time and location and remain available to give a statement when it is safe. Independent observations may help investigators understand the sequence before impact. You can also learn how to obtain an Indiana crash report after an investigation.
Why location and deadlines matter
This event crossed three counties. The pursuit began in Miami County on U.S. 24, continued through Fulton County on U.S. 31, and ended in a crash near 12th Road and Sage Trail in Marshall County. The driver's later booking in Miami County does not change where the crash occurred.
Most Indiana personal injury claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. Indiana's Comparative Fault Act, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, also affects recovery. An injured person whose fault is greater than 50 percent recovers nothing; otherwise, the recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault. The firm's explanation of Indiana's comparative fault rule provides more context.
Different rules may apply if an uninvolved person is injured during a police pursuit. Claims against a government entity are governed by the Indiana Tort Claims Act. Written notice for a claim against a city, county, town, or other political subdivision is generally required within 180 days under Ind. Code 34-13-3-8. Notice for a claim against the State is generally required within 270 days under Ind. Code 34-13-3-6. These periods run from the date of the loss, so you should not assume that the ordinary two-year filing period is the only deadline.
Indiana's minimum auto liability insurance requirements are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage, under Ind. Code 9-25-4-5. Indiana insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2. Whether that coverage applies depends on the policy and the facts. If coverage is uncertain, a Fort Wayne uninsured accident attorney can review the available policies.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
This report does not suggest that anyone involved has a civil claim. When an uninvolved person is hurt in a pursuit crash, however, the legal and insurance questions can be hotly contested. Delventhal Law Office can obtain available reports, identify possible uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, review comparative fault issues, and explain the shorter notice requirements that may apply when a government agency is involved.
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm serves communities across northern Indiana and offers a free case evaluation.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
