VIGO COUNTY – On Saturday, August 1, at approximately 6:10 p.m., 911 calls came into the Vigo County Central Dispatch Center in reference to six individuals being injured at the Wabash Valley Dragway after being struck by a passenger vehicle.
Upon arrival at the scene, Trooper Zachary Grundell observed first responders providing medical care to several individuals. Trooper Grundell collected information indicating that a vehicle performing burnouts in a specified area had lost control, pushing a large metal barrier into the crowd. The vehicle then left the area. Trooper Grundell and other officers then began investigating.
Officers located the vehicle involved in the incident, but the driver was not with the vehicle. After speaking with several individuals at the dragway, the vehicle owner presented himself to officers and turned himself in.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Merick C. Colson, 20, of Danville, Indiana. Colson was taken into custody and transported to the Vigo County Jail without incident on charges of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a Class 6 felony, leaving the scene of a serious bodily injury accident, a Class 6 felony, and criminal recklessness, a Class A misdemeanor.
The individuals injured during this incident had non-life-threatening injuries.
Assisting Agencies: Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, Honey Creek Fire Department, and TransCare.
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.
