VIGO CO – On Wednesday, at approximately 8:25 p.m., Indiana State Police trooper was patrolling in Vigo County.
While patrolling, he visually observed a white pickup truck that was traveling south on Lafayette Avenue above the posted speed. He activated his radar and received a reading of 52 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone.
The trooper then attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver of the pickup truck disregarded the fully marked State Police car, with its emergency lights activated, and accelerated. A pursuit then ensued.
The pickup truck turned from Lafayette Avenue onto 16th Street, then traveled through several city streets and alleys with the driver disregarding stop signs, driving recklessly through backyards and driving over brick and wood structures, attempting to flee.Â
The trooper eventually lost sight of the vehicle due to staying on the traveled portion of the roadway, but several bystanders, who witnessed the truck’s reckless driving, indicated to the trooper the direction in which it continued to travel. With the information provided, he continued to attempt to locate the pickup truck.
Upon traveling to the intersection of 13½ and Elizabeth streets, The trooper observed that a passenger vehicle had been stuck on the driver’s side and that the pickup truck, which he was pursuing, was rolled over on the passenger side.
The trooper immediately called for medical assistance and located the driver of the pickup truck to make sure that he was not going to cause further harm to anyone else. The trooper then began providing medical first aid to the driver and passenger of the struck vehicle.
The driver of the pickup truck and the two occupants of the passenger vehicle were extracted out of the vehicles by the Terre Haute Fire Department. All three were then transported to Union Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the pickup truck was identified as 37-year-old Kenneth M. Rogers, of Terre Haute. Upon identifying Rogers, it was discovered that he had an active warrant out of Vigo County for resisting law enforcement. During an inventory of Rogers’ vehicle, police found marijuana, methamphetamine, and syringes.Â
Further investigation by the trooper found Rogers was impaired. Once medically cleared from Union Hospital, Rogers was placed under arrest and is currently being held in the Vigo County Jail on felony charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury, possession of meth, two counts of unlawful possession of a syringe, maintaining a common nuisance and misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment, criminal recklessness, possession of marijuana, and operating a vehicle with a scheduled I or II controlled substance
Assisting: Several Troopers from the Putnamville State Police Post, Terre Haute Police Department, Terre Haute Fire Department, and Lambert’s Towing.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
