Vigo County—Last night at approximately 8:00, Indiana State Police Trooper Bradley Fyfe went to assist Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Barts with a suspected impaired driver near 11th and Hulman Streets in Terre Haute. Seconds before Trooper Fyfe’s arrival, the driver sped away from Deputy Barts in a 2006 Chevrolet car.
The suspect fled westbound on Hulman Street to US 41 then south to Margaret Avenue where the suspect stopped for a red light. At the light, Troopers Brad Fyfe and Rondell Shelton, along with Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Barts, approached the driver and ordered him out of the vehicle. The suspect refused all commands. Troopers broke out the driver’s side window and attempted to gain control of the suspect. Again, the suspect fled southbound on US41 at speeds reportedly near 97 miles-per-hour. The suspect lost control in the median of US 41 just south of 7th Street and sustained front end damage as a result. The suspect fled yet again, southbound in the northbound lanes of US 41 to Crossing Boulevard and then east on Crossing Blvd, ultimately crashing into a chain link fence. The driver was taken into custody after physically resisting the officers. A chemical test revealed his BAC to be .306%.
Arrested: Joseph P. Sons, age 25, of Terre Haute, IN.
ISP Charges: Operating Vehicle While Intoxicated
Operating Vehicle While Intoxicated-Endangerment
Additional charges for fleeing/resisting were completed by Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Barts.
Assisting were West Terre Haute Police Officer Jonathan Stevens and Trooper Rondell Shelton.
