Multiple motorists hospitalized after South Bend man speeds away from police
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A South Bend police officer was led on a brief chase and three drivers were crashed into and injured after 33-year-old Matthew Dean ran a flashing red light at Colfax Avenue and Walnut Street while evading law enforcement on Tuesday night.
Authorities say a SBPD officer spotted Dean driving erratically in a red Pontiac Grand Prix in the area of Fassnacht and College Street, and after watching him make a series of sporadic turns, the officer saw Dean run a stop sign and initiated a traffic stop.
"At this time, the vehicle began to accelerate, and while the officer was informing dispatch that he was in pursuit, the vehicle ran a red flashing stop light at Walnut and Colfax, was struck by a Ford Explorer heading westbound on Colfax, spun and hit a Jeep Compass driving eastbound on Colfax, and came to rest in the southern half of the intersection," court documents state. "The Ford Explorer then hit a Pontiac Torrent."
Authorities say the entire pursuit was about one mile, with roughly 2,000 feet occurring after the stop was initiated.
Officers found Dean injured but awake and coherent. He was able to get out of the car on his own and was put in handcuffs while other injured people were tended to.
A passenger in Dean's car was unconscious in the passenger seat and needed to be extracted by members of the South Bend Fire Department.
She was taken to Memorial Hospital in critical condition where preliminary reports indicated she suffered multiple fractures and collapsed lungs.
"As of the time of this affidavit's submission, she is in critical but stable condition," authorities said.
The Jeep Compass ended up on its side with the driver and sole occupant injured. He was also taken to Memorial for treatment of a collapse lung.
The driver of the Ford Explorer suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from Memorial hospital. The driver of the Pontiac Torrent was shaken up and was transported to Memorial for treatment of preexisting conditions.
Authorities say before Dean was taken to the hospital, they found multiple small baggies of a crystal-like substance that field tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.
"Dean was uncooperative with investigators. A search warrant for a sample of Dean's blood was sought and obtained, and blood toxicology is pending," court documents show.
Dean's driver's license was currently suspended, and he was wanted on failure to appear warrants out of St. Joseph County for possession of meth and resisting law enforcement.
He also has a warrant out of Starke County for failure to appear for an initial hearing on a misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia charge.
He was charged with two counts of Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Reckless Driving Causing Bodily Injury.