Motorist Passes Trooper in No Passing Zone and Causes Collision
Owen County—This morning at 7:40, Indiana State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on US 231 at Kirby Road, involving a trooper and another motorist.
Preliminary investigation revealed Trooper William Brown, age 39, was on routine patrol in his marked 2014 Dodge Charger traveling northbound on US 231. As Trooper Brown approached Kirby Road, he signaled a left turn and slowed to make the turn. In doing so, he was suddenly struck by a northbound black 2008 GMC pickup, driven by 22-year-old Gavin Funkhouser of Bloomington, IN., who was attempting to pass the ISP car. The right front of the GMC struck the left front of the ISP commission. The highway markings for this area are both a double yellow line and signs indicating a no passing zone.
Trooper Brown was transported to IU Health Hospital in Bloomington and treated and released for complaint of pain to his body. Funkhouser reported no injuries. Drugs and alcohol did not play a role in this crash. Funkhouser was cited for passing in violation of signs and markings.
The crash was investigated by ISP Sergeant Doug Hutchinson. Assisting were ISP Trooper Julie Deel, Owen County Sheriff’s deputy Russell Glenn, and Owen County EMS.
Trooper Brown is an eight year veteran of the ISP assigned to the Bloomington Post.
The attached pictures are from the scene.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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