Indianapolis, IN – Trooper Andrew Atwell is in the hospital recovering from injuries sustained in a crash early this morning on I-70 eastbound near Emerson Avenue. At 5:10 a.m. Atwell radioed into dispatch saying his car was struck. Trooper Joel Flores, who was also on scene, immediately requested medics. Atwell was conscious and alert but complaining of back pain, the other driver was not injured.
Shortly before the crash Trooper Joel Flores had struck something in the roadway causing a flat tire on his police vehicle. He exited onto the ramp to Emerson Avenue and Trooper Atwell came to assist Flores. A short time later, Atwell had backed down the ramp, on the shoulder, to check for debris in the road that Flores possibly hit. With his emergency lights activated Atwell was sitting at the bottom of the ramp when the crash occurred. Investigating officers believe a 2011 Ford F-250, driven by 57 year old John Berry, was on I-70 eastbound exiting onto Emerson Avenue when another vehicle possibly splashed slush onto his windshield. Berry then struck the rear end of Atwell’s police car. The roads were slushy and hazardous at the time of the crash, Berry was ticketed for Failure to Yield to a Stationary Emergency Vehicle.
Area interstates continue to be hazardous as snow and sleet have created slick conditions. If you must travel this morning reduce your speed, increase following distance and buckle your seat belt.
All suspects are innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law
