Suspect Arrested after Pursuit and Fatal Crash, Trooper Injured; UPS Truck Driver, Patrick Dene Harvey, Killed

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Suspect Apprehended after High-Speed Chase and Fatal Collision, Trooper Injured

SOUTHERN INDIANA — A Charlestown resident has been taken into custody after leading law enforcement officers from multiple agencies on a high-speed pursuit along I-65, culminating in a collision with a State Trooper on Tuesday. Tragically, a fatal crash occurred following a subsequent traffic backup.

According to reports, the suspect vehicle reached speeds exceeding 110 miles per hour during the police pursuit that began in Scott County and continued into Clark County. Near the 9-mile marker, the fleeing Acura encountered Stop Stick tire deflation devices deployed by troopers from the Indiana State Police Post in Sellersburg. However, the driver persisted in their attempt to evade capture, continuing southbound. The pursuit eventually came to a halt at the 3.6-mile marker when the Acura collided with an Indiana State Police car driven by Trooper Justin Mears. Both vehicles came to rest in the middle of the roadway.

As a result of the collision, Trooper Mears sustained injuries and became temporarily trapped in his vehicle. Meanwhile, the suspect driver, identified as Dylin Lee Taylor from Charlestown, fled on foot and was eventually apprehended inside a bus near the Sportsdrome Speedway a short time later.

During the pursuit, officers discovered that an adult female and a child were also present in the Acura. Both individuals sustained minor injuries and were transported by ambulances to local hospitals for medical attention.

Trooper Mears, on the other hand, was immediately taken to University Hospital, where he received treatment for a head injury. Fortunately, he has since been released and is recovering.

Following the initial crash at the 3.6-mile marker, all southbound lanes on I-65 were blocked, causing a standstill in traffic. Approximately ten minutes later, a southbound UPS semi-truck collided with the rear of another semi-truck and trailer that had come to a stop in the resulting backup. Sadly, the driver of the UPS truck, identified as 25-year-old Patrick Dene Harvey from Brownsburg, lost his life in the collision. The co-driver who was asleep in the UPS truck’s sleeper birth at the time was rushed to University Hospital with serious injuries.

The charges against Dylin Lee Taylor have been revised and now include the following:

1. Battery with Bodily Injury to a Public Safety Officer – Level 5 Felony
2. Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Bodily Injury – Level 5 Felony
3. Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle and Causing Serious Bodily Injury – Level 5 Felony
4. Battery by means of a Deadly Weapon – Level 5 Felony
5. Criminal Recklessness with Aggressive Driving – Level 6 Felony
6. Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle – Level 6 Felony
7. Resisting Law Enforcement – A Misdemeanor
8. Reckless Driving Causing Bodily Injury – A Misdemeanor
9. Driving While Suspended – A Misdemeanor
10. Criminal Recklessness – B Misdemeanor

This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face daily in the line of duty. The Indiana State Police, along with other agencies involved, are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community and will continue their efforts to bring justice to those who endanger public safety..