CASS COUNTY, Ind. (WTHR) — A northwestern Indiana woman is in critical condition after a police chase that ended when she crashed into the back of an Indiana State Police car.
Royal Center resident Melissa K. Smith, 36, was driving a 2011 Toyota Sierra minivan and was asked to pull over after allegedly weaving from lane to lane on State Road 35 near State Road 24 in Cass County just after 12:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Smith allegedly refused to stop and led the officers on an approximately 19-minute chase that ended when her vehicle hit the back of a 2018 Dodge Charger on State Road 25 at Rockfield Road in Carroll County.
The Dodge, which was clearly marked as an Indiana State Police car, was off the roadway blocking the Rockfield Road intersection, and Trooper Andrew Smith narrowly avoided being struck by the two vehicles after the crash.
Preliminary evidence indicates Melissa Smith intentionally crashed into the police car.
Melissa Smith was transported to Logansport Memorial Hospital with life threatening injuries.
