Police arrested a 32-year-old man driving a truck towing a trailer that crashed into at least three other vehicles before fleeing in Bloomington Tuesday, according to BPD Capt. Ryan Pedigo. The man was operating without financial responsibility.
The driver of a 2001 maroon Chevrolet Silverado with green doors towing a trailer with mowing equipment attempted to drive between vehicles stopped in traffic while traveling eastbound on Ind. 45 and vehicles traveling westbound. In doing so the driver struck at least three other vehicles near the intersection of Ind. 45 and Industrial around 4:33 p.m.
A Bloomington Police Officer met with victims in the parking lot of Wal Mart afterward and they told him the crash happened quickly. It was reported that the truck was then headed westbound with either the truck or the trailer sparking due to damage from the collisions.
The fleeing driver’s Chevy truck got hung up on the passenger side wheel-well of a Ford F150 that he hit. So, the fleeing driver moved his truck forwards and backward until he got free. In the process of the collision, the driver of the Chevy also got out to inspect his own damage, which gave witnesses a chance to provide a description to police to identify him.
The driver then cut through the Wal Mart parking lot, drove behind Wal Mart, then onto Leonard Springs Road before continuing westbound on Ind. 45. A witness to the crash followed the fleeing driver until he turned into a driveway in the 5100 block of Indian Valley Drive.
By now he was in the jurisdiction of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and a deputy pulled up at the residence in the 5100 block of Indian Valley Drive, and saw the man exit the truck and run inside a house. About five minutes later, the man returned outside, and he was taken into custody by BPD, who also arrived at the residence.
The driver was taken to IU Health Bloomington to be evaluated before being taken to the Monroe County Jail. Police investigating found open alcohol containers in the truck. The truck had a broken tie rod and the front right tire was laying flat on the ground.
Later as the man was receiving treatment at the hospital he refused to sit and then began to struggle with a BPD police officer. The officer and the suspect ended up in a physical struggle on the floor of the hospital, and in the process the man caused the officer to have lacerations to his right hand. The man also broke the officer’s nameplate.
The man was charged with a level B misdemeanor for leaving the scene of the crash, resisting law enforcement a level A misdemeanor, a level 5 felony for battery against a public safety official, and a level 6 felony for being a habitual offender. Operating a vehicle without insurance is also a crime, and it’s unclear who will pay for the damages to the other vehicles.
