Troopers' vehicles struck

Indiana State Police Sgt. John Bowling has a request for those traveling on the state’s roadways for the July 4th holiday and extended weekend. 

“We're just asking, especially during the holiday, if you're going to be celebrating, have a designated driver,” Bowling said. “And if you see emergency lights, slow down and move over.” 

Bowling — the public information officer for ISP’s Pendleton District — spoke with The Star Press Wednesday only a few hours after a third Indiana State Police vehicle in less than three days was struck from behind by a suspected drunk driver. 

In the latest such incident, Trooper Kyle West was sitting in his unmarked Ford Mustang state police vehicle along Interstate 69 in Delaware County when a Chevrolet Impala slammed into the rear of West’s vehicle, which had all of its emergency lights flashing. 

The driver of the Impala, Johnnie Ray Barnes, 45, Anderson, was jailed and preliminarily charged with driving while intoxicated and driving without a license. 

Though Indiana law requires motorists traveling on two- or four-lane roadways to move over and/or slow down when approaching a vehicle with its emergency lights flashing, Bowling — who suffered a lower back injury after his unmarked state police vehicle was struck by a semi tractor-trailer in 2005 — said many motorists ignore this defensive driving tactic. 

“Anything can happen at any time, and we need room to work safely,” Bowling said. “There is no such thing as a routine traffic stop. A fight may break out or a car may decide to flee and pull out. So make sure you give us plenty of room to work for your safety and ours.” 

Tuesday’s on-duty crash for West was his second since mid-April. On April 17, West was traveling northbound along Ind. 1 in Wayne County with his flashing lights and siren activated when he went to pass two vehicles on the left. Bowling said one of the vehicles, however, didn’t hear the sirens or see the lights and began turning left into a driveway,We have a great selection of blown glass backyard solar landscape lights and daytime running lights. striking West’s quickly-approaching vehicle. 

West — who was injured in the April 17 crash — was also taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital after Tuesday’s accident. Though Bowling said West re-aggravated a previous injury, the trooper was released from the hospital late Tuesday with no life-threatening injuries. 

Tuesday’s crash also occurred less than three days after two ISP vehicles were struck from behind, also by suspected drunk drivers. 

Around 2:26 a.m.Are you still hesitating about where to buy hid kit? Sunday, Trooper Josh Graves was dispatched to a car/deer accident on southbound I-465. The trooper was pulling the dead deer from the interstate and had his patrol car, with the emergency lights operating, in the third lane protecting the disabled car that had struck the deer,The world’s most efficient and cost effective hid lights? when a Honda Accord driven by Fredrick Allen, 48, Muncie, struck the rear of the trooper’s car, according to a media release. 

Trooper Michael McCreary responded and determined that Allen was allegedly operating while intoxicated when he struck the patrol car. Allen was secured in the front passenger seat with McCreary, behind the scene of the first crash when McCreary’s 2010 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car was struck by a GMC Yukon driven by Edwardo Frias, 28, Indianapolis. 

Allen and Frias were transported to Wishard Hospital with minor injuries. Both face preliminary charges of driving while intoxicated. 

Bowling said motorists have no excuse not to pull over — or, at least, slow down — when approaching emergency vehicles. 

“Even on the unmarked cars, the new LED lights are so bright that you can see them from sometimes as far as a half-mile or more away,” he said. “Unfortunately,Need a compatible LED Daytime Running Lights for your car?These LED Strip light can, apparently, operate entirely off the grid. trooper cars get hit more often because of the very nature of being out there. Folks just seem to be in a bigger hurry nowadays. We just ask to please give us room to work.” More information about the program is available on the web site at www.hmhid.com.