March 6, 2008
Juvenile driver leads police on pursuit, crashes
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A juvenile driver was pursued by Purdue police early Thursday (March 6) morning before colliding with a semitrailer on State Street, causing its diesel fuel tank to rupture.The crash sent two people to St. Elizabeth Hospital with injuries, including the driver involved in the pursuit, a 17-year-old Lafayette resident. The teen will be charged with operating while intoxicated, intimidation, criminal recklessness with a vehicle, resisting law enforcement and driving without a license, said Purdue police Capt. Tim Potts.
According to police, Alex Jiyoung Kim, a 28-year-old student in graduate studies from Morton Grove, Ill., was driving on Nimitz Street just after 4 a.m. in the Purdue Village when a van following behind began flashing its lights as if wanting Kim to pull over. Kim told police he pulled over, and the van's driver approached his vehicle angrily and reached into his waistband as if to pull out a weapon. Kim immediately pulled away and dialed 911.
"Our officers responded quickly to the area and located the van in question," Potts said. "The van was still following the complainant, and when our officers turned on their emergency lights and siren to make a traffic stop, the driver fled."
The van proceeded into the area of University, Marsteller and State streets and left the campus area. Potts said officers were preparing to radio the West Lafayette Police Department when the van crashed.
The van, which at one point drove the wrong way on the one-way portion of State Street and also onto a sidewalk, collided with the semi at Northwestern Avenue and State Street. Purdue police were two blocks behind when the crash occurred.
Potts said the juvenile had no weapon, and a search of the van and surrounding area turned up no weapon.
Clinton County has a warrant out for the juvenile's arrest for auto theft. The van was not stolen, Potts said.
The fatal alcohol crash team is investigating the incident. Potts said the Purdue police cars involved in the incident never reached speeds above 55 mph. Potts said he is unsure of the van driver's speed when the collision occurred.
The semitrailer driver, Julian Newman, 27, of Indianapolis, sustained cuts to his head. A passenger in the semi declined medical treatment.
Purdue Fire Department's hazardous materials team responded to the diesel spill. Crews also were clearing the roadway of the semi, which was carrying food items.
A portion of State Street was closed.
Writer: Jim Bush, (765) 494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu
Source: Tim Potts, (765) 496-8357, tapotts@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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