INDIANAPOLIS — A police chase on the northeast side of Indianapolis ended in a multi-vehicle crash with four people, including the suspect, being injured Wednesday night.
The chase started just before 8:15 p.m. when an officer saw a driver commit a traffic infraction near 33rd Street and Keystone Avenue and started following the driver.
That's when the driver, later identified as 37-year-old Chad Wood, started weaving in and out of traffic and then ran another car off the road, according to IMPD Capt. Don Weilhammer.
At that point, the officer turned on his lights and tried to stop Wood for reckless driving, but Wood didn't stop. This led to a police chase through a residential area on the northeast side of the city.
Dozens of police departments are updating their 2023 police chase policies after a change in statewide standards, but IMPD already has one of the most restrictive policies. It takes into consideration the risk to the public, only going after suspects for felony crimes and a few misdemeanors.
13News asked Weilhammer if it's standard practice to pursue a suspect in a residential area like this. He said it's situational.
"There are many factors that go into whether or not we decide to pursue. A residential area — that standing by itself — would not constitute, 'No you don't do a pursuit.' However, if you were to take this on a school day, with children walking along, then no, we would not do a pursuit. Other factors we consider are speed and the amount of traffic in the area."
In this case, the officer went forward with the chase.
The length of the chase was about four miles. It ended when Wood ran a red light and hit two vehicles at the intersection of East 42nd Street and North Arlington Avenue.
Four people, including the suspect, were injured in the crash. The three people who were in the cars that were hit were taken to hospitals for minor injuries, according to IMPD.
Wood was arrested at the scene for several traffic infractions and reckless driving. Then, police said Wood was taken to a hospital to be treated for a broken leg and is said to be in stable condition.
Police later discovered Wood was wanted on three active warrants out of Marion, Boone and Hamilton counties, including a warrant for misdemeanor invasion of privacy and criminal mischief in Marion County, as well as two other felony warrants outside of Marion County — one for fraud and identity deception and the other for counterfeiting.
Wood also faces preliminary charges of reckless driving and resisting law enforcement by vehicle in Wednesday night's pursuit and crash.
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will make final charging decisions.
NOTE: A previous version of this story said five people were injured and taken to local hospitals, but IMPD clarified Thursday morning and said four people were injured.