ANDERSON—Earlier Sunday evening, at approximately 5:00 p.m., an Indiana State Trooper attempted to pull over a white Volkswagen for excessive speed on I-69 north of Anderson, 89mph in a 70mph zone. When the trooper pulled in behind the vehicle, the driver fled southbound. The suspect exited I-69 onto State Road 32, leading the trooper through Chesterfield and into Anderson.
The vehicle turned onto 9th Street in Anderson and sped toward the White River at the end of the dead-end street. The driver stopped the Volkswagen and bailed out on foot, leaving a female passenger behind. The Trooper pursued the man on foot as he ran toward the river. The man then jumped into the water. Due to recent storms, the river was rushing, and the water level was very high.
The trooper maintained a visual on the man as he was swept down the river a short distance, eventually clinging to a pile of brush in the water. The Anderson Fire Department responded with water rescue equipment and pulled the man from the water. The man was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The female passenger was not arrested.
An Anderson Firefighter who jumped into the water during the rescue was also treated for injuries and was later released.
The driver of the Volkswagen, 30-year-old Sebastian Southerland of Hartford City, Indiana, is currently under police supervision in a local hospital. It was discovered that Southerland was wanted on an active arrest warrant for dealing methamphetamine. He now faces the following potential charges:
- Resisting Arrest with a Vehicle
- Resisting Arrest Causing Injury
- Reckless Driving
- Operating While Intoxicated Endangerment
- Operating While Intoxicated – Controlled Substance
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson Police Department, Anderson Fire Department, and the South Madison Fire Territory assisted ISP.
The Madison County Prosecutor will determine actual criminal charges upon reviewing the probable cause affidavit.
All suspects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
