5 injured in Noble County crash; State trooper injured while assisting motorists at scene

LIGONIER, Ind. — Five people were injured in a crash in Noble County Saturday morning.

According to a press release, an Indiana State Trooper observed a 2011 Mercedes C-Class passenger car traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 6 just before 8:25 a.m. The trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop with the vehicle’s driver because he had observed that the car was travelling in excess of 100 mph.

When the trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver of the Mercedes sped away and a pursuit ensued. The chase traversed several roads on the outskirts of Ligonier, per ISP.

The trooper involved in the incident terminated the pursuit when the driver of the Mercedes headed into Ligonier on State Road 5. According to ISP, the trooper ended the pursuit because he believed a high-speed chase would pose a threat to the general public in Ligonier.

Soon after the trooper stopped chasing the driver of the Mercedes, police received a report of a crash on U.S. Highway 33 just south of the roadway’s intersection with U.S. Highway 36.

After a preliminary investigation, police determined the Mercedes that had been involved in the chase disregarded a traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. Highway 33 and U.S. Highway 36 at a high rate of speed.

The driver of the Mercedes crashed after speeding through the intersection, striking the rear end of a 2019 Nissan Rogue. A 2004 Acura passenger car was also damaged when the driver of the Mercedes ran left of center and sideswiped it.

The driver of the Mercedes was transported to a hospital in Fort Wayne in serious condition after the crash.

ISP reported that a passenger in the Rogue was flown from the scene to a local hospital in critical condition. The Rogue’s driver was also transported to a hospital in Fort Wayne.

The driver and passenger in the Acura sustained minor injuries and were transported to Parkview Noble Hospital in Kendallville via ambulance.

The trooper that had been involved in the chase with the driver of the Mercedes was one of the first law enforcement officials to arrive at the crash scene. While he was trying to rescue the Rogue’s occupants, he sustained lacerations to his hands and arms. ISP indicated the trooper was transported from the scene to Parkview Noble Hospital in Kendalville, where he received treatment before ultimately being released.

Parts of U.S. Highways 33 and 36 were closed for nearly five hours while officials investigated and cleaned up the crash.

State police indicated that they have not yet arrested anyone involved in the pursuit and subsequent crash.

As of this article’s publication, no additional information on the incident had been made available.

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