Wreck involving Henry County sheriff's vehicle, semi-truck sends three to hospital

David Penticuff, Muncie Star Press
·2 min read

SPICELAND, Ind. − Two Henry County Sheriff's deputies and a truck driver from New York suffered non-life threatening injuries Thursday night in a collision at the intersection of Ind. 3 and Interstate 70, according to Indiana State Police.

Troopers from the Pendleton state police district are investigating the crash that occurred about 8 p.m. Thursday.

When investigating, Trooper Avery Weidbrodt arrived at the scene, state police said, he found a semi tractor and trailer, driven by Gul Loqman of Yonkers, New York, and a sheriff's Dodge Durango driven by Deputy Christopher Hafley, 23, of Muncie.

SPICELAND -- A crumpled Henry County Sheriff's patrol vehicle sits along the highway at the intersection of Ind. 3 and Interstate 70 Thursday night after the vehicle collided with a semi-truck. The crash sent two Henry County deputies and the truck driver to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
SPICELAND -- A crumpled Henry County Sheriff's patrol vehicle sits along the highway at the intersection of Ind. 3 and Interstate 70 Thursday night after the vehicle collided with a semi-truck. The crash sent two Henry County deputies and the truck driver to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Hafley was being trained by another deputy, Deputy Derek Bertrand, 33, of New Castle, who was a passenger in the patrol vehicle.

At the time of the collision, Hafley was one of several Henry County deputies responding to a Knightstown police officer's request for assistance with an individual who was resisting arrest. Hafley was following two other marked police vehicles traveling southbound on Ind. 3.  The vehicles approached the intersection with Interstate 70. The first two police vehicles proceeded through as Hafley approached. The tractor trailer then pulled into the intersection to enter the on-ramp to I-70.

State police said Hafley did not have time to react and struck the tractor trailer.

Investigators said the traffic signal at the intersection was showing green for Hafley and his patrol car had its emergency lights and siren going at the time of the crash.

Loqman was cited for failure to yield the right of way.

The truck driver and two deputies were transported to Henry County Memorial Hospital in New Castle. The investigation is still ongoing at this time.

Trooper Weisbrodt was assisted by Trooper J.T. Burns and Trooper Michael Thiron.  Other responding agencies were Spiceland Fire Department,  Dunreith Fire Department, New Castle EMS and Davis Towing.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Three hurt in crash of Henry County patrol vehicle and semi-truck