Most drivers will never lead a police chase. But every driver shares the road with people who choose extreme speed, and the people in the next lane pay the price. Early Friday, a pursuit through northern Indiana reached speeds near 130 mph and ended in a crash.
What Happened
According to WISH-TV, citing the Indiana State Police Peru District, a trooper on U.S. 31 in Fulton County just after midnight Friday tried to stop a Tesla for speeding and distracted driving. The driver did not stop.
Police say the chase continued through Fulton and Marshall counties, with speeds near 130 mph. On U.S. 31 at 17th Road in Marshall County, the Tesla crashed into another vehicle. The fleeing driver tried to run and was apprehended with help from a Fulton County sheriff’s K-9. The other driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Police say a search of the car found suspected marijuana, paraphernalia, and a signal jammer. The driver faces multiple preliminary charges, including felony resisting law enforcement with a vehicle causing injury, criminal recklessness, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with injury, and operating a vehicle without ever having been licensed, among others.
We’re glad the other driver was treated for minor injuries. The case will move through the courts. The guidance below is for every driver who wants to stay safer around high-speed danger they didn’t create.
Speed That Leaves No Room to React
At highway speeds near the limit, you already need long stopping distance. At speeds approaching 130 mph, almost any sudden move becomes a crash. Other drivers can’t predict a vehicle that is fleeing or weaving through traffic that fast.
- You can’t outdrive physics. Higher speed means less time to see a hazard and less distance to stop.
- Everyone nearby is at risk, including drivers who are doing everything right.
- Night makes it worse. Darkness cuts how far you can see, just when reaction time matters most.
If You’re Being Stopped, Pull Over
Trying to flee a lawful stop turns a traffic issue into a far more serious case, and it puts strangers in other cars in danger.
- Signal, slow down, and pull to a safe spot.
- Stay in the vehicle unless an officer tells you otherwise.
- Keep your hands visible.
If you disagree with a stop, the place to contest it is in court, not on the highway.
How Other Drivers Can Stay Safer
You can’t control someone else’s choices, but you can reduce your exposure.
- Leave a bigger following gap on multi-lane highways, especially at night.
- Don’t race or match speed with an aggressive driver. Ease off and let them go by.
- Watch mirrors for vehicles approaching much faster than traffic.
- Avoid distractions so you can react if someone suddenly appears in your lane.
- If you see a pursuit, don’t follow it, don’t film while driving, and give emergency vehicles room.
The Indiana Driver’s Manual stresses scanning, managing speed, and yielding the right of way. Those basics matter even more when another driver is behaving unpredictably.
Distracted Driving Made This Stop Necessary
Police say the trooper first tried to stop the Tesla for speeding and distracted driving. Phones and extreme speed are a dangerous pair. Before any pursuit starts, the everyday choice is simpler:
- Mount the phone or put it away before you drive.
- Set navigation while parked.
- If you drop something, pull off safely instead of reaching for it at highway speed.
A clean stop for a traffic issue beats a felony chase that hurts someone else.
Indiana Driver Safety Program
A defensive driving course won’t stop a fleeing driver, but it can sharpen the habits that help you manage speed, space, and risk. Defensive Drivers Institute’s Indiana Driver Safety Program is from an approved Indiana BMV provider. It’s a 4-hour course, as required by the BMV, that you can take 100% online and pause anytime. Finishing earns a 4-point credit on your Indiana driving record, which you can use once every three years, and completion is reported to the BMV automatically within 24 hours.
The course doesn’t remove a ticket or conviction from your record. Learn more in our guide to the 4-point credit.
The Bottom Line
Extreme speed in a pursuit endangers every nearby driver. Pull over when you’re stopped, and give yourself space and attention so you can react when someone else doesn’t.
Want a 4-point credit on your Indiana record? Start the Indiana Driver Safety Program.
