Shelby County - Earlier this evening around 6:00 p.m. an Indiana State Police car was sideswiped on I-74 eastbound near Shelbyville. Troopers were patrolling the area due to a traffic back-up caused by construction at the 113 mile marker, and particularly watching for vehicles passing stopped traffic on the emergency shoulder. Trooper Gannon, who was stopped in the traffic back-up, saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed passing traffic on the right emergency shoulder. As the vehicle passed, Gannon activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop on that vehicle. As he pulled onto the shoulder behind the violator, with his emergency lights on, a second vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on the right emergency shoulder, sideswiped the fully marked state police vehicle.
During the course of the crash investigation, the driver of the vehicle that struck the police car, 48 year old Oscar Alverez, was found to have an outstanding arrest warrant for traffic violations in Henry County. Alverez was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Shelby County Jail, where he will await extradition to Henry County.
Trooper Gannon was not injured in the crash. Alverez received traffic citations for improper passing and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.
Any preliminary charges are merely accusations, all suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court.
Investigating Officer: Trooper Jeff Stone, Indiana State Police
