What started as a routine traffic stop on I-65 Tuesday night turned into a brief but chaotic chase that ended with a Bloomington man in handcuffs and interstate traffic at a crawl in Bartholomew County.
Indiana State Police say a 23-year-old driver tried to flee during an attempted stop on southbound I-65, only to be boxed in by other motorists after crashing into two vehicles. The man was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, then booked into the Bartholomew County Jail. The incident temporarily backed up traffic as multiple agencies rushed to the scene.
State Police: Near Miss With Patrol Car Sparked Pursuit
According to Indiana State Police, the whole thing kicked off around 7:36 p.m. near the 77-mile marker on southbound I-65, after a maroon passenger car nearly sideswiped a patrol vehicle. Trooper Ryne McMahel attempted a traffic stop, but police say the driver hit the gas instead of the brakes, triggering a short pursuit reported by The Republic.
Troopers chased the car for roughly two miles before calling it off. With traffic heavy and the roadway wet, state police decided the risk of a high-speed crash outweighed the benefit of staying on the suspect’s bumper.
The maroon car kept going and, near the 61-mile marker, struck two other vehicles. That is when other drivers on the interstate stepped in, helping to box the car in long enough for troopers to close in and detain the driver.
Why Troopers Sometimes Call Off A Chase
Law enforcement officials say ending a pursuit is often less about giving up and more about keeping everyone else on the road alive and uninjured. On busy stretches like I-65, a chase can turn dangerous fast, especially in bad weather or heavy traffic.
In recent weeks, troopers have cut off other pursuits along the interstate when conditions made continued chasing too risky, a trend also seen in incidents reported by WAVE3. The idea is simple: let a fleeing driver go for the moment rather than turn the highway into a demolition derby that could injure uninvolved motorists or officers.
Charges And Booking
Indiana State Police identified the driver as 23-year-old Joe Dylan Hacker of Bloomington. He faces a mix of felony and misdemeanor counts tied to Tuesday’s events.
According to The Republic, the Level 6 felony charges include unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle used in a crime, theft of a motor vehicle and resisting law enforcement with a vehicle. Investigators say Hacker also faces several misdemeanor driving and obstruction accusations.
After his hospital evaluation, authorities booked Hacker into the Bartholomew County Jail, where he remains in custody pending prosecution.
What The Charges Mean In Indiana
In Indiana, a Level 6 felony carries a fixed-term sentence ranging from six months to two-and-a-half years, with an advisory term of one year. Judges can also tack on fines and other penalties, depending on the case details. The statutory sentencing ranges and specific provisions are outlined in the Indiana Code.
Exactly which counts move forward will be up to prosecutors in Bartholomew County as the case makes its way through the court system.
What Happens Next
The case now heads to the Bartholomew County prosecutor, who will review reports, decide on formal charges and set an arraignment date. No court date had been released at the time of reporting.
Indiana State Police said troopers from the Sellersburg post were assisted by deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office during the incident response. Authorities had not released additional details at the time of publication.
