Local News

Police Give Details in Fatal Car Pursuit

(Michigan City, IN) - An 18-year-old Illinois man was killed Thursday night when his car during a pursuit by police crashed through the brick wall of Ames Field in Michigan City. Grant Grabel was from Bourbonnais, a village about 60 miles south of Chicago.

 

The collision left a gaping hole in the wall.

 

The vehicle came to rest under the bleachers, which were heavily damaged in that section of the stadium home to the Michigan City High School football team.

 

“It went through the brick wall and under the bleachers, and that’s where it ended up stopping,” said LaPorte County Coroner Lynn Swanson.

 

According to Indiana State Police, the preliminary investigation shows Grabel about 8 p.m., was spotted traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Michigan Boulevard, a four-lane highway also known as U.S. 20.

 

Michigan City Police tried pulling over the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, triggering the pursuit. The chase went down multiple city streets at “relatively low speeds” until reaching Washington Street, where the driver accelerated.

 

Police said Grable was traveling at high speeds when he failed to stop at the intersection with Skiwat Legion Avenue. His vehicle then struck the concrete pillars outside Ames Field and went airborne before crashing through the stadium wall, police said.

 

According to police, Grable had to be extricated from the vehicle. Life-saving measures were applied, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Indiana State Police is investigating the crash and reconstructing the scene at the request of the Michigan City Police Department. 

 

Swanson said whether the driver had consumed alcohol or drugs is pending the toxicology test results.  

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