LIGONIER - Indiana State Police is investigating a high-speed crash that occurred Saturday morning involving a Warsaw man.
According to a news release from the ISP, the crash, which occurred at approximately 8:25 a.m. Saturday on U.S. 33, just south of U.S. 6, in Ligonier, involved three passenger vehicles, resulted in five persons being injured, three of which were seriously injured and either flown or transported by ambulance to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.
Prior to the crash, the vehicle that is reported to have caused the crash - driven by Ethan Aza, 23, of Warsaw - was allegedly involved in a police chase with an ISP trooper. That trooper had reported observing a 2011 Mercedes C-Class passenger car traveling eastbound on U.S. 6, west of Ligonier, at over 100 mph. When the trooper attempted to stop the Mercedes, a pursuit ensued.
At some point, the release states, after the pursuit traversed several roads on the outskirts of Ligonier, the pursuit came southbound on Ind. 5, headed back into Ligonier, at which point the trooper reported terminating the pursuit due to the risk to the general public. Shortly there after, the Mercedes was involved in a crash on U.S. 33, just south of the U.S. 6 intersection. Ind. 5 turns into U.S. 33 at the intersection with U.S. 6.
An ISP crash reconstruction investigator was called into handle the overall investigation, according to the release.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the 2011 Mercedes C-Class passenger car was traveling at a high rate of speed south on Ind. 5 and disregarded the traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. 6, crashing into the rear of a 2019 Nissan Rogue SUV which had just turned south onto U.S. 33 from U.S. 6. That initial impact sent the Nissan Rogue off into the side ditch onto its side. The Mercedes then ran left of center and sideswiped a northbound 2004 Acura passenger car before becoming disabled.
Extreme high-speed, alcohol and drugs are all suspected as contributing factors, the release states.
Aza was seriously injured in the crash. There were no other occupants in the Mercedes. After being extricated by the Ligonier Fire Department, Aza was taken by Parkview EMS to PRMC in Fort Wayne in serious condition.
Both the driver and passenger of the Nissan Rogue suffered serious injuries in the crash. After extrication by fire/rescue personnel, the adult passenger was transported by Samaritan helicopter to PRMC in Fort Wayne in critical condition. The driver was taken to PRMC by ambulance.
The adult driver and adult passenger in the Acura passenger car both suffered minor injuries and were transported by ambulance to Parkview Noble in Kendallville.
The trooper that had been involved in pursuing the Mercedes was one of the first arriving police officers on scene. While attempting to rescue occupants of the Nissan Rogue, he suffered lacerations to his hands and arms. He was taken to Parkview Noble in Kendallville where he was treated and later released.
As a result of the crash, U.S. 33 south of U.S. 6 had to be closed for nearly five hours while the investigation and cleanup took place.
This remains an ongoing investigation by the ISP, with criminal charges expected to be requested once the overall investigation is complete, according to the release. This will be turned over to the Noble County Prosecutor for a full review and determination of charges to be filed.
The Indiana State Police were assisted at the scene by the Noble County Sheriff's Department, Ligonier Police Department, Avilla Police Department, Ligonier Fire Department, Cromwell Fire Department, Parkview EMS, Parkview Samaritan and Leatherman's wrecker service.