On 08/01/03, at approximately 22:50 hrs, Rush County Sheriff's Department (RCSD) Deputy N. Ernstes stopped a car for failing to dim its headlights. He approached the car and the driver and smelled the odor of alcoholic beverage and marijuana escaping from the car. The Deputy informed the driver why he had stopped him. The Deputy saw that the driver had signs of intoxication and impairment. When Dep. Ernstes requested license information, the driver reached up, put the car in gear and sped off.
At this juncture I must point out that our Department (The Rushville Police Department) has a ride-along program, and right, wrong, or indifferent, it does not matter if civilian riders are present – we respond to emergency situations. I had a civilian rider (a good friend of mine) with me this evening.
At 22:52 hrs a pursuit entailed and Rushville Police Department Units were asked to assist. Being the only K-9 officer in the county, I was also asked to assist. Speeds of 120 mph+ were reached at times during the pursuit. I caught up with the tail car, driven by RCSD Deputy Gosser, and informed him I was there. Through some miscommunication, I thought the Deputy in front of me informed to go on around him. I knew we were getting ready to get into the curvy part of the road, but did not realize we were right upon the first set of curves. The Deputy pulled to the right and I went around him. What I did not see was that he had gone to the right to avoid a car that was heading at him through the curves (not yielding) while trying to avoid the car in front of him at the same time. While passing the Deputy, I negotiated the car heading at me, the curve, and a car that had pulled to the right hand side of the road. My car started to skid sideways but I drove out of that and was heading straight when I felt my car begin to float. I told the passenger in a calm voice that "Well, here we go!" I remember praying that the Lord would keep my passenger and my dog safe, and gave myself over to the Lord. I hunkered down and held on for a wild ride. All I remember is that the car floated around backwards.
This part I found out later. Traveling backwards, the car hit a telephone pole with the left rear corner. The impact took out the telephone pole right at point of impact and my vehicle flipped over diagonally landing on the right front side, then rolled 2-3 times into a grove of trees and came to rest upright against a huge tree.
Once the car settled I remember crawling out of the car and thinking, "I am all here! And I don't hurt!" The cop in me kicked back in as I hollered for others to help me. We started getting my passenger and my dog out of the car, both I am thankful to say were still alive. The dog was pinned in the Ray Allen Cruise Eze because of the amount of damage it had sustained. It was pretty crunched, as were the vehicle’s doors. I helped out until my adrenaline bottomed out and then I just sat down. About that time EMS arrived on scene and I then became a patient.
My civilian rider was air-lifted to an Indianapolis hospital, where she was released a few hours later with several stitches to the back of her head. I was released as well from the local hospital that same night, also with stitches to the back of my head. The dog was stoved up for a couple of days, and acted somewhat nice to people!!! But we three virtually walked away, and with very minimal injuries.
The next day I went to look at the car during the daylight and took the pictures that accompany this story. There were obviously some worldly man-made safety features that were instrumental in saving my life, like my seatbelt and air-bag. But I truly believe that if it had not been for the grace of God and the Ray Allen Cruise Eze, which acted like a roll cage, that my friend, my dog, and I would not be here today. The utility pole would have most likely come all the way up into my back, crushing my dog completely in the process; and when flipping end over end, the roof of the car would have fully been crushed down upon us. If you look at the pictures you will see what I mean and why I believe this.
The other good news - the pursued driver was later apprehended by Shelby County Dep. Koch and his K-9 Rocco. He was charged with Habitual Traffic Violator (D-Felony), Resisting Law Enforcement and Resisting Law Enforcement Causing Injury, Operating While Intoxicated (with a prior offense, D-Felony), and numerous other charges.
Thank you to the other officers who were instrumental in catching the bad guy and helping an officer in need.
Canine Officer Tracy Dice
Rushville Police Department
Rushville, Indiana
