March 29, 2024

High-speed chase ends in crash

An 18-year-old teenager from Corydon led Newton police officers on a high-speed chase Sunday morning before crashing the stolen vehicle in a ditch.

Newton Police attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Christian M. Rodgers, 18, of Corydon at 1:34 a.m. Sunday after observing him drive through a street closed sign in the 700 block of Union Drive. Once police attempted to stop him, he allegedly sped off, reaching speeds of 110 mph on Highway 14 and then on county road F-48 before crashing in a ditch at North 59th Avenue West. Police also said during the chase, he drove on the wrong side of the road.

Police discovered he stole the vehicle from a residence in the 700 block of First Avenue West and charged him with second-degree theft. The vehicle damages were estimated at $1,500.

Once police apprehended him, they noticed an odor of alcohol and said he failed sobriety test. His blood alcohol content at the time was .076. Police then charged him with with operating while intoxicated, eluding, failure to obey a stop sign and driving on the wrong side of the road. No injuries were reported and he was taken to the Jasper County Jail.