NORTHWEST INDIANA – On July 8, 2026, at approximately 1:30 a.m. CST, an Indiana State Police trooper initiated a pursuit that began in Lake County and continued southbound on I-65 into Jasper County.
A trooper first attempted to stop a black Ford Fusion near the 253-mile marker of Interstate 65 after the vehicle fled at speeds exceeding 130 miles per hour and intermittently turned off its headlights. As the pursuit continued south on I‑65, additional unsafe maneuvers were observed, including passing on the right shoulder at high speeds and driving behavior consistent with impairment.
As the vehicles approached the 225-mile marker, the suspect vehicle attempted an unsafe lane change that nearly caused a collision with the trooper’s car. Due to the extreme danger posed to the motoring public, the trooper conducted a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT), causing the Ford to spin, leave the roadway, and roll over in the median. The vehicle came to rest on its roof.
The driver exited the vehicle on his own and was taken into custody without further incident. The driver was identified as Osvaldo Saavedra Facundo, 18, of Rensselaer, Indiana. Indicators of impairment were observed, and Facundo consented to standardized field sobriety testing. Facundo later refused a certified chemical test and was transported for a blood draw pursuant to a signed search warrant.
The investigation further revealed that Facundo was operating the vehicle on a learner’s permit. Facundo was transported to the Jasper County Jail and is preliminarily charged with the following offenses:
- Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle- Level 5 felony
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment- Class A misdemeanor
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated- Class C misdemeanor
- Reckless driving- Class C misdemeanor
- Illegal consumption- Class C misdemeanor
The Jasper County Prosecutor will determine final charges.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
