Saguaro
10-11-2007, 09:25 AM
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. -- A Shelbyville police officer was killed late Wednesday night when a set of the rear dual tires and wheels from a tractor-trailer struck him as he stood alongside the State Road 44 ramp to Interstate 74 eastbound, police said.
The officer, whose name was not immediately released, had been sent to back up a Shelby County sheriff's deputy who had made a traffic stop on a vehicle that was believed to have been stolen that had two juveniles inside.
Police said that the tractor-trailer was going past the scene at about 11:40 p.m. when the rear passenger tires and wheels came off the trailer. The tractor-trailer driver was apparently unaware of what happened and continued on the interstate for a few miles before he was stopped.
Police called what happened a tragic accident and said it was not likely that the tractor-trailer driver would face charges.
Members of the Shelbyville Police Department gathered in the square downtown early Thursday morning to present a flag to the fallen officer's family.
The officer had been with the department for 25 years and had many ties to the community, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.
"It's going to be very sad because this is a close-knit community and it's a small town. Just about everybody knows everybody," said resident Cathy Ping.
The officer's body was taken to the Hamilton County, Ohio coroner's office and was expected to return later Thursday.
Officials said they will not release the officer's name until later in the day.
Eastbound I-74 was shut down for four hours after the crash and traffic was diverted through Shelbyville.
Police said the juveniles inside the suspected stolen car were not injured and were taken to the Johnson County Juvenile facility.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/14315725/detail.html
The officer, whose name was not immediately released, had been sent to back up a Shelby County sheriff's deputy who had made a traffic stop on a vehicle that was believed to have been stolen that had two juveniles inside.
Police said that the tractor-trailer was going past the scene at about 11:40 p.m. when the rear passenger tires and wheels came off the trailer. The tractor-trailer driver was apparently unaware of what happened and continued on the interstate for a few miles before he was stopped.
Police called what happened a tragic accident and said it was not likely that the tractor-trailer driver would face charges.
Members of the Shelbyville Police Department gathered in the square downtown early Thursday morning to present a flag to the fallen officer's family.
The officer had been with the department for 25 years and had many ties to the community, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.
"It's going to be very sad because this is a close-knit community and it's a small town. Just about everybody knows everybody," said resident Cathy Ping.
The officer's body was taken to the Hamilton County, Ohio coroner's office and was expected to return later Thursday.
Officials said they will not release the officer's name until later in the day.
Eastbound I-74 was shut down for four hours after the crash and traffic was diverted through Shelbyville.
Police said the juveniles inside the suspected stolen car were not injured and were taken to the Johnson County Juvenile facility.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/14315725/detail.html