A multi-county police chase ended in tragedy late Monday night when a fleeing SUV collided with two vehicles at a busy Indianapolis intersection, killing the driver and injuring several others.
Indiana State Police say the pursuit began around 9:15 p.m. in New Castle when the Henry County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a maroon Dodge Durango on State Road 3. The driver refused to stop, leading law enforcement on a 40-mile chase westbound on I-70, through Hancock County, and into Marion County.
The chase came to a violent end at the intersection of Washington Street and Mitthoeffer Road. Investigators say the Durango exited the interstate and sped southbound on Mitthoeffer before running the intersection at high speed, crashing into a blue Ford Mustang and a white BMW.
The SUV flipped several times, ejecting the driver, 33-year-old Dewuan L. Hampton, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The Marion County Coroner’s Office ruled his death as a result of a motor vehicle accident during a police pursuit.
Three passengers in the Durango were taken to local hospitals. One remains in critical condition. The driver of the Mustang was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while the BMW driver suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
Several firearms were recovered near the wreckage and are believed to have fallen from the Durango during the crash. The exact reason for the initial traffic stop remains unclear, and no arrests have been made at this time.
Indiana State Police are leading the investigation into the pursuit and crash.
