CLARK COUNTY — A pursuit along U.S. 31 in Clark County ended in a two-vehicle crash that sent all occupants to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Wednesday afternoon.
At approximately 12:04 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Indiana State Trooper Clay Boley observed a white Chevrolet Blazer make an unsafe lane movement on U.S. 31 near Lewis and Clark Parkway. The Blazer increased its speed and continued north on U.S. 31. Trooper Boley followed and observed the vehicle’s license plate was expired. When Trooper Boley attempted to stop the Blazer, the driver, later identified as 50-year-old Jason Dale Arbuckle of Branchville, sped northbound at extreme speeds, and Trooper Boley gave pursuit.
The pursuit continued northbound on U.S. 31, reaching speeds near 100 mph. As the Blazer continued north, Arbuckle allegedly disregarded the stoplight at U.S. 31 and Hamburg Pike and collided with a blue 1993 Ford pickup truck, which came to rest in the southbound lane of U.S. 31. The Blazer continued off the highway and came to rest in a grassy area just off the west side of the roadway and immediately caught fire. Arbuckle advised he could not move as the vehicle fire began to intensify. Trooper Boley quickly ran to the passenger side of the vehicle and was able to pull Arbuckle out through the window to safety. The Blazer was soon fully engulfed in flames.
EMS personnel transported Jason Arbuckle and the occupants of the pickup truck to University Hospital in Louisville for non-life-threatening injuries.
As of this news release, the two occupants of the Ford truck remain in University Hospital.
During the investigation, officers discovered Jason Arbuckle was wanted for a parole violation. As a result of the pursuit and subsequent investigation, Arbuckle is now facing the following additional charges in Clark County:
· Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Causing Serious Injury – Level 5 Felony
· Criminal Recklessness – Level 6 Felony
· Driving While Suspended, Causing Injury – Level 6 Felony
· Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
· Reckless Driving, Causing Injury – A Misdemeanor
Officers with the Louisville Police Department took Jason Arbuckle into custody after his release from the hospital.
