Last Updated 5 days by Amnon J. Jobi | Amnon Front Page
Man wounded in Clay County police shooting
CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Indiana State Police say a man is in the hospital after a police shooting in Clay County. Investigators say the case involved the driver of a stolen U-Haul that hit four police cars and launched a trooper into the air.
According to Indiana State Police, just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening, officers spotted a stolen U-Haul near State Road 59 and State Road 42.
Troopers say the driver of the U-Haul disregarded the officers and turned south down a private drive. A female then got out of the vehicle and started running away from it and police. Officers then attempted to place stop sticks near the tires, but before the stop sticks were in place, troopers say the driver continued to travel south down the private lane.
Eventually the driver once again stopped and officers tried to begin negotiations. ISP says the driver suddenly placed the vehicle in reverse, almost striking a Clay County deputy and striking three Clay County patrol vehicles. He then drove off again and stopped for a third time.
After an hour and a half of negotiations, ISP says the driver suddenly sped off directly towards a fully marked state police vehicle that had two troopers next to it in defensive positions. Investigators say the U-Haul hit the state police vehicle and the force of the collision threw one trooper in the air, causing non-life threatening injuries.
Officers from the Terre Haute Police Department and the Clay County Sherriff’s department then fired directly at the driver of the U-Haul, striking him at least once.
Once the U-Haul came to a stop, the driver was immediately provided medical assistance by the Terre Haute Special Response Trauma Team and flown to a hospital in Indianapolis.
As of Wednesday morning there was no word on the suspect’s condition or an arrest.
Officers say the injured state trooper was taken to the hospital and will recover. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
Police say the female was transported to the Clay County Jail for questioning and has been released. Her name and age were not immediately available.