NORTH VERNON, Ind. — Two North Vernon men were killed after their vehicle crashed during a high-speed police chase in Jennings County, authorities said.
Dustin A. Brown, 24, was pronounced dead at the crash scene following the chase Friday night that started near the intersection of Roads 200N and 275E.
Tim A. Brashear, 27, of North Vernon, was airlifted to a Cincinnati-area hospital, where he later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Brown and Brashear both were thrown from a sport-utility vehicle as it crashed into an embankment and a bridge structure and flipped numerous times along Road 200N, according to Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.
An investigation determined Brashear was driving the vehicle.
The chase started when Jennings County Sheriff’s Deputy Alan Ritchie and Reserve Deputy Cliff Chile were on patrol along Road 200N and saw a vehicle disregard the stop sign at the intersection of Road 275E.
The vehicle turned towards the officers and nearly collided head-on with the patrol car, according to the sheriff’s department.
Ritchie drove off the side of the road to avoid being hit by the oncoming vehicle, turned around and activated his emergency lights.
The deputy drove eastbound and was attempting to catch up to the vehicle, which had increased its speed in what the officers believed was an attempt to elude them.
The vehicle continued eastbound at a high rate of speed. As the officers caught up with it, they saw the vehicle go out of control and leave the south side of the road, striking the embankment and bridge structure.
The impact combined with the high speed at which the vehicle was traveling caused the men to be ejected as it flipped, according to the sheriff’s department. No one else was injured.
Jennings County Sheriff Steve Hoppock requested Indiana State Police investigate the crash, including having an ISP accident reconstructionist go to the scene.
Investigators remained on scene for several hours, during which Road 200N remained closed.