ISP arrests man after pursuit leads to crash, injuring 2

CLARK COUNTY, Ind. — A man has been arrested after leading Indiana State Police on a pursuit that resulted in a fiery crash and two people being sent to the hospital Wednesday afternoon in southern Indiana.

According to ISP, a trooper observed a white Chevrolet Blazer traveling north shortly after 12 p.m. as it made an “unsafe lane movement” on US 31 near Lewis and Clark Parkway. The trooper began following the vehicle as it increased its speed. ISP said the trooper also observed that the license plates on the vehicle were expired.

ISP said the driver of the Chevrolet Blazer, identified as 50-year-old Jason Arbuckle of Branchville, Indiana, reportedly ignored the trooper’s instructions to pull over.

A pursuit was initiated as Arbuckle continued driving northbound with the trooper following behind. At one point during the pursuit, ISP said Arbuckle ignored a stoplight at US 31 near Hamburg Pike and collided with a blue 1993 Ford pickup truck, injuring two occupants inside.

Arbuckle’s vehicle eventually came to a halt off the roadway in a grassy area and quickly became engulfed in flames. ISP said Arbuckle told a trooper on the scene that he could not remove himself from the vehicle as the flames began to spread.

The trooper managed to pull Arbuckle from the passenger side of the vehicle and bring him to safety before the Chevrolet Blazer was fully engulfed in flames. Arbuckle and the occupants of the pickup truck were transported to University Hospital in Louisville for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Troopers soon determined that Arbuckle was wanted for a parole violation on unrelated offenses prior to Wednesday’s pursuit and two-vehicle crash. Arbuckle was arrested after being released from the hospital and received the following preliminary charges:

• Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle causing serious injury, level 5 felony
• Criminal recklessness, level 6 felony
• Driving while suspended causing injury, level 6 felony
• Possession of methamphetamine, level 6 felony
• Reckless driving causing injury, misdemeanor charge

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