Tennessee man fatally injured in crash after police chase

BEDFORD, Ind. (WISH) — A Tennessee man died from injuries suffered in a crash on Christmas after he attempted to flee from Indiana State Police (ISP) troopers.

On Thursday, an ISP trooper observed a 2014 Buick Regal traveling through the State Road 37/State Road 54 intersection in Lawrence County and turning into the grass median before traveling northbound on State Road 37. The trooper followed the Regal on State Road 37 as the driver displayed behavior that appeared consistent with impairment. The trooper activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop north of the Trogdon Lane intersection, but the driver, identified as John M. Pillen, 53, of Columbia, Tennessee, refused to stop. The trooper activated his siren to alert Pillen, but he still refused to stop and continued northbound.

Pillen turned right onto Old State Road 37 at the State Road 37/Old State Road 37 intersection, south of the Lawrence and Monroe County Line, and traveled southbound. Vehicle speeds were 30-40 miles per hour, but Pillen refused to stop until the intersection of Old State Road 37 and Kentucky Hollow Road. The trooper, with assistance from additional ISP troopers, attempted a felony stop by giving verbal commands to Pillen. Pillen shifted the Regal in reverse and struck an ISP patrol vehicle. Pillen struck the vehicle a second time and then fled the scene.

Pillen traveled northbound on Old State Road 37 a...