Rush County – This morning around 7:30 a.m. Pendleton Trooper Chris Yeend was working crash reduction on a rural section of State Road 244, West of State Road 3 in Rush County, in his unmarked Dodge Charger.  This section of highway is known to be treacherous, as it is narrow with numerous hills and no shoulders.

To compound the dangerous road there is a heavy Amish population in the area with frequent buggy traffic on the rural road.  Crashes on this roadway frequently involve serious injuries.  As Yeend traveled east and approached the area of County Road 400 West, he saw a west bound car coming at him at an obvious high rate of speed.

Yeend clocked the vehicle at 103 M.P.H. in the 50 M.P.H. zone, turned on the car and attempted to catch up.  After more than a couple miles he was able to catch and stop the black 2002 Mustang.  Further investigation revealed the driver, Robert Dunham, age 36 of Oldenburg Indiana, was Operating as a Habitual Traffic Violator with his driving privileges Suspended for Life.

Dunham was arrested and lodged in the Rush County Jail for operating as a Habitual Traffic Violator, Suspended for Life, Class “C” Felony, and Reckless Driving Excessive Speed, Class “B” Misdemeanor with bond set at $3,000.

As the Superintendent of the Indiana State Police, Dr. Paul Whitesell, stated earlier this week, “We are steadfast in our commitment to minimize the number of crashes that injure and kill people on our roadways and will use all tools and enforcement methods at our disposal to stop such needless tragedies.”  Your Indiana State Police remain committed to reducing crashes on all Hoosier highways