A driver who fled from officers in a vehicle caused a crash that claimed one life Saturday afternoon. The Indiana State Police was requested by the Southport Police Department to investigate the incident.
September 26, 2026 just after 1:30 p.m. Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department pulled over a maroon Dodge Challenger near Southport Road and Emerson Avenue. After initially stopping for the officers, the driver fled in the vehicle. Officers began to pursue the vehicle, however the IMPD Officers involved terminated the pursuit moments after it started. All IMPD Officers disengaged completely from the chase.
A Southport Police Officer was in the area when the traffic stop took place and became involved in the pursuit. When IMPD disengaged, the Southport Officer continued the pursuit. The fleeing suspect continued on several city streets making his way to the area of the 4800 block Southeastern Avenue where he crashed into a pick-up truck head on.
The driver of that pick-up truck was ejected from the truck. There was also a woman in the pick-up who was entrapped in the vehicle. The woman later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. The driver of the pick-up remains hospitalized in very critical condition.
The suspect who was fleeing officers was also critically injured in the crash and entrapped. His vehicle caught fire and he had to be pulled from the wreckage by responding officers. He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and remains in critical condition.
Troopers responded to the scene of the crash but were not involved in the pursuit. This case remains under investigation by Indiana State Police Detectives and Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionists. There is no further information to release at this time.
The identities of the involved individuals will be released at a later date.