NORTH VERNON, Ind. — North Vernon police and Jennings County Sheriff deputies chased a suspect Sunday in reference to a leaving the scene accident that occurred in the area of North State Road 7 and Geneva Road at 4:12 p.m.
Upon arriving in the area of North State Street, a North Vernon Police officer located the suspect vehicle, a gray 2004 Dodge Stratus operated by Joshua D. Ahern, age unavailable, of Indianapolis. investigators said. The officer observed numerous moving violations from the suspect vehicle, and turned to conduct a traffic stop on West Franklin Street. Upon initiating the traffic stop, Ahern failed to yield, and began to attempt to evade police, nearly hitting a pedestrian and his dog, and driving through front yards on Bay Street, officers said.
Ahern led police and deputies on a vehicle pursuit, police said. The vehicle pursuit continued southbound on North State Street to South State Street., then southbound on State Road 7 into Madison. Ahern committed numerous other traffic violations, and led police and deputies from multiple agencies on the nearly 23 mile pursuit reaching speeds in excess of 105 miles per hour, police said
An officer from the Madison Police Department attempted to end the pursuit by utilizing tire
deflation devices, however it was unsuccessful. Ahern lost control of his vehicle in the area
the 900 block of Lanier Drive in Madison and ultimately collided with two parked and unoccupied vehicles. The collision caused a full-size fan to be forced through a front wall of a business front, officers said.
Ahern was immediately apprehended by officers, and medical personnel were called to the scene. Ahern was flown out from the scene to a nearby hospital due to injuries he sustained during the crash. No other individuals or officers were injured throughout the incident.
Ahern is facing the following preliminary charges:
- Driving without a license
- Operating without financial responsibility with prior conviction
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Criminal recklessness
- Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle
- Reckless driving
- Aggressive driving
The investigation into the incident is continuing, police said.
