South Bend, IN-An Indiana State Police Trooper along with a 19 year old Mishawaka man and a 20 year old South Bend woman were hospitalized tonight following a two vehicle crash involving the Trooper's police car.
According to Trooper Gretchen Deal, at approximately 8:00 p.m. Trooper William B. Ennis, 32 of rural St. Joseph County was on his way to assist the St. Joseph County Sheriff Department with a reported vehicle crash. He was operating his fully marked Indiana State Police car with its emergency red and blue lights activated and was traveling westbound on Ireland Road approaching the intersection with Linden Road prior to the crash.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a white 2003 Hyundai Elantra driven by 19 year old Robert Lee Perez of Mishawaka entered the intersection southbound on Linden Road where it was struck broadside by Ennis' police car. As a result of the collision, Perez was trapped and was extricated by the South Bend Fire Department.
Perez and his passenger, 20 year old Danielle Cutler from South Bend were both taken to a local hospital where Perez was reportedly in critical condition and Cutler was said to be in serious condition. Ennis, a five year veteran of the State Police was also hospitalized locally with injuries to his hip and lower extremities and is in stable condition.
Crash reconstructionists from the Indiana State Police are assisting with the investigation which is ongoing at this time.
