SIDNEY - Two officers were injured Wednesday afternoon in a three-squad car collision while officers were searching for a auto theft suspect.

Kosciusko County Sheriff's deputy John D. Ayres, 29, was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital for head injuries and released. Indiana State Trooper Alan Lehman, 25, was also treated at KCH and released.

All three police cars were damaged, with damage to Ayres' car estimated at $5,000 to $10,000. Damage reports for the other two squad cars were unavailable this morning.

The accident occurred at 4:16 p.m. Wednesday on CR 400E, 350 feet north of CR 1000S, near Sidney.

The officers were in the area searching for a suspect who stole a pickup earlier in the day from Mount Pleasant, Mich. The pickup was found in an accident on Ind. 14, and the driver fled the scene on foot, heading north near CR 400E.

County officers and state police set a perimeter and searched the fields for the suspect. When officers spotted the suspect, officers in the northern area began to head south.

Kosciusko County Sheriff's deputy John E. Hart, 42, reported he was in a private driveway on CR 400E when he got the call to go south. As he pulled out of the driveway, Ayres drove over the nearby hill and saw Hart's squad car.

Ayres reported he began to brake but knew he would not be able to stop in time to avoid Hart's car. Ayres said he swerved to the left and went off the east side of the road, striking an earth embankment.

Hitting the embankment caused Ayres' car to roll over, coming to rest on its side on CR 400E. Ayres was able to get out of the vehicle through the shattered rear window.

Hart was assisting Ayres when Lehman drove over the hill and spotted the accident. He was unable to stop in time and struck Hart's car, then skidded into Ayres' car.

The suspect who allegedly stole the pickup was found and taken into custody. Josh Hirt, 15, Mount Pleasant, Mich., was released this morning to be transported back to Michigan, where he faces criminal charges. [[In-content Ad]]