Driver dies, police officer injured in Saturday morning crash

A driver died and a Trafalgar Police officer was injured after a chase early Saturday morning in southern Johnson County.

According to Johnson County Sheriff’s Department reports, the Trafalgar officer noticed a pickup ignore a stop sign at the intersection of State Road 135 and Johnson County Road 300S at about 3:36 a.m. Saturday morning. The officer tried to pull the vehicle over but the truck and the police car continued on to the T-intersection of County Roads 300S and 600W, where both vehicles crashed into an embankment.

The officer radioed for assistance and both drivers had to be rescued from their vehicles. The police officer was flown by Lifeline helicopter to Eskenazi Hospital with back, hip, leg and internal injuries. He is listed in serious but stable condition, according to police.

The pickup driver was pronounced dead at the scene by the Johnson County coroner’s office.

The names of the drivers have not yet been released and the crash remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy of Johnson County Sheriff’s Department.