MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana State Police say an 18-year-old Illinois man is dead after he crashed into a concrete pillar at a football stadium in Michigan City following a police chase.
Michigan City Police say it started Thursday night around 7:30 p.m. when a juvenile reported a domestic situation to an officer at the Michigan City Police Department. Officers initiated an investigation into the domestic battery allegation.
An 18-year-old suspect in the investigation met with officers in the front lobby of the Michigan City Police Department to return property to the juvenile. Officers say he ran when they started asking him questions. Police said he got into a vehicle and took off. Officers followed the suspect, now identified as Grant Gables, at a low rate of speed initially. Officers said he then began to speed away before eventually crashing into the concrete barrier at Ames Field.
Grable had to be extricated from the vehicle. Police say that life-saving measures were performed but he was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaPorte County Coroner’s Office.
Indiana State Police released the following:
On Thursday, September 22nd, at approximately 8:10 p.m. the Michigan City Police Department requested the Indiana State Police to investigate a fatal crash that occurred in their city.
Preliminary investigation by Trp. Pratt shows that at approximately 8:00 p.m., Michigan City Police Officers observed a vehicle traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Michigan Blvd. Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop; however, the driver refused to stop resulting in a pursuit. The driver continued to flee at relatively low speeds through city streets until the vehicle drove south on Washington St. from Barker Ave. As he drove south on Washington St., the driver accelerated to a high rate of speed and failed to stop at the intersection of Skwiat Legion Ave. The vehicle then struck the concrete pillars that provide a barrier to Ames Field. After striking the pillars, the vehicle went airborne into the brick wall of the bleachers and through that wall coming to rest under the bleachers. The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle. Life-saving measures were performed on the driver; however, he was declared deceased at the scene by the LaPorte County Coroner’s Office. The deceased has been identified as Grant J. Grable, 18, from Bourbonnais, IL. Notification to next of kin has been made by the LaPorte County Coroner.
The Indiana State Police is investigating the crash and reconstructing the scene at the request of the Michigan City Police Department. Further questions regarding what led up to the pursuit should be directed to the Michigan City Police Department.
Assisting at the scene were the following: Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department, Cloverleaf Towing, LaPorte County Coroner’s Office, and the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team.
