Two in custody, one dead following early morning pursuit

Janet Binion, Tyler Straub

UPDATE THURSDAY: SBPD has identified the victim as 58-year-old Pedro Rosales of South Bend.

Police say SBPD officers attempted to stop a stolen GMC Sierra near South and Fellows Streets. The suspect vehicle failed to stop, leading to a chase.

Police say less than a minute after the officer activated his emergency lights, the suspect vehicle disregarded a red light and collided with a Chevy Cruze.

The driver of the Cruze, a South Bend man, died from his injuries. The man's identity is withheld pending next-of-kin notification.

The suspects in the stolen GMC were identified as 31-year-old Tyler Straub, and his passenger, 24-year-old Janet Binion.

Both were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.

After being released, they'll be taken to the St. Joseph County Jail on prior outstanding warrants.

According to court documents, Straub was wanted on a warrant for Invasion of Privacy, and two counts of Criminal Mischief filed on Dec. 25, 2025.

He was also charged on May 24, 2024, with Resisting Law Enforcement - def. intentionally flees. He pleaded guilty and spent 30 days in county jail.

Binion was wanted on a warrant in Pulaski County for Driving While Suspended w/ prior conviction. Documents state he failed to appear at her change of plea hearing on Nov. 25, 2025, which led to a warrant. She then missed her bench trial on Dec. 17, 2025.

The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case.

This crash remains under investigation by St. Joseph County FACT and SBPD's Pursuit Review Committee.

UPDATE: As of 8:38 Monday, the South Bend Police Department has announced the Sample Street and Michigan Street intersection has been cleared with no traffic restrictions in place.

ORIGINAL STORY: SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The South Bend Police Department reported a crash at the intersection of Sample Street and Michigan Street after a police pursuit early Wednesday morning, leaving that intersection closed for the morning and three in the hospital.

Around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, the South Bend Police say officers began a pursuit after attempting to stop a stolen vehicle around South and Fellows Street when the suspect vehicle didn't stop.

The suspect vehicle then struck another vehicle at the intersection of Sample Street and Michigan Street.

The crash left three people to be transported to the hospital and the intersection to close for the morning commute.

St. Joseph County FACT has taken over the response and will release more details as the investigation continues.