Police Chase Results In Crash, ChargesA Warsaw man was transferred to a Fort Wayne hospital after crashing his vehicle during a police chase Friday morning.
Ezekiel Dewayne Fitzpatrick, 25, suffered internal injuries. He is preliminarily facing charges for fleeing law enforcement, reckless driving as well as other infractions committed during the chase.
At approximately 6:29 a.m. Friday, Warsaw police officers were dispatched to a man – Fitzpatrick – passed out at the wheel at the intersection of CR 200N and U.S. 30. The vehicle was facing south, according to Det. Brad Kellar, public information officer at Warsaw Police Department.
The Warsaw officer first on scene confirmed a male subject passed out at the wheel of an operational 2004 silver Oldsmobile Alero, according to a news release from Kellar. The officer initially suspected the driver might have been intoxicated or impaired based on his actions. During this initial investigation, a second Warsaw officer arrived on scene. It was at that point that Fitzpatrick fled the scene, almost striking the initial investigating officer.”
A pursuit ensued, as Fitzpatrick fled along Anchorage Road, then northbound on Ind. 15. The suspect was driving at excessive speeds and passing other motorists on the right side of the road. This caused the suspect to lose control of his vehicle around CR 400N and Ind. 15, where Fitzpatrick’s vehicle rolled and came to rest on its top.
Fitzpatrick was partially ejected because of the single-vehicle collision with the culvert, said Kellar. His silver Alero is believed to be totaled from the collision. Other than damage to the culvert, no other vehicles or property were damaged in the rollover.
First Sgt. Chris McKeand, of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, said Fitzpatrick was transported to a Fort Wayne hospital with internal injuries.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office is assisting WPD with the traffic accident investigation and subsequent charges that may result in an investigation for operating while intoxicated pending the outcome of a blood test, McKeand said. Narcotic drugs are believed to be a factor in the pursuit, he said.
The WPD was assisted on scene by KCSO, Winona Lake Police Department, Lutheran EMS and Warsaw/Wayne Township Fire Department.
Kellar said the accident is still under investigation.
