Halloween vehicle pursuit ends in Putnam County crash

The scene Sunday night after a two-county high-speed pursuit ends in a one-car crash, sending a Brazil/Reelsville area woman to an Indianapolis hospital with a broken leg and head injury.

Photo courtesy Knightsville Town Marshal

BRAZIL -- A Clay County woman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit that ended in Putnam County Halloween night.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Knightsville Town Marshal Michael Heaton was parked at city hall when he noticed a black vehicle without a license plate driving at a higher rate of speed than necessary during the Halloween trick-or-treating.

As Heaton started to follow the car, he heard screams as he saw the driver turn west onto Knight Street, taking the corner quickly.

A mother with her child in a wagon was crossing the street and had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. After checking to make sure they were all right, Heaton followed the black Dodge Charger as it reached speeds of more than 60 mph through town, along Tower Road, and turned onto U.S. 40.

The pursuit wound around various county roads in the northeast section of Clay County -- driving through a yard near CR 400 North and East CR 1200 East --- before returning to U.S. 40 and turning east toward Putnam County with several police vehicles following from additional agencies.

Speeds at one point reached more than 90 mph as the driver turned into Appleblossom subdivision in southwestern Putnam County. Evading law enforcement, the driver returned to U.S. 40 and turned west, back toward Clay County, driving west in oncoming traffic in the eastbound lane briefly.

Turning north on Putnam County Road 800 West, the driver wound around various gravel roads in Putnam County, ultimately striking a guardrail, hitting a tree and wrecking the vehicle near a train viaduct.

Authorities said Amber Houk, 33, Brazil/Reelsville area, sustained a broken leg and a head injury during the wreck.

Houk was taken by ambulance to Putnam County Hospital and then air ambulance to Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital to treat her injuries. Due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, further information about the victim’s medical condition is unavailable.

Other agencies assisting the Knightsville Town Marshal were Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, STAR Ambulance and Stat Flight MedEvac.