Published: March 25, 2008 11:07 pm         

Teen dies following high-speed pursuit

Chase occurs on U.S. 41; speeds top 80 mph

SULLIVAN — The crash of a van that a teen allegedly stole in Carlisle resulted in the boy’s death in Sullivan on Monday evening.

“We don’t know why he was in there and probably will never know why, or where he was heading,” said Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts said of Landon Jay Dunn, 15, Oaktown.

Dunn stole a white, 1995 GMC van from the 400 block of North Ledgerwood Street in Carlisle around 7:37 p.m. Monday, police said.

“We believe it was just a random act there in Carlisle. He found a van with a set of keys in it,” Watts said, noting that a neighbor reported seeing someone jump into the van and take off before calling the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department.

According to an ISP report, Indiana Conservation Officer Matt Landis located the vehicle driving north on U.S. 41 near Sullivan County Road 400S around a minute later, and tried to pull it over with assistance from ISP Trooper David Petrowski.

Both units activated their emergency lights and siren, but the driver of the vehicle refused to stop, according to the report.

The vehicle continued north on U.S. 41 at speeds in excess of 80 mph, before turning north onto Section Street toward the Sullivan City limits.

“Basically, law enforcement was on top of it pretty quick, by chance, just by looking,” Watts said.

Landis and Petrowski “terminated the pursuit” at 7:49 p.m. as the vehicle entered Section Street and the city limits of Sullivan.

“Traffic concerns and safety concerns,” Watts said regarding police rules of pursuit in explaining why the officers slowed down and shut their sirens off before entering the city.

A minute later, at 7:50 p.m., the van struck a concrete block fixture at the northeast corner of Section and Silver streets.

Dunn was pronounced dead at the scene by Sullivan County Deputy Coroner Aleta Eldridge.

Eldridge said the boy died of a head injury. An autopsy was conducted Tuesday in Terre Haute Regional Hospital.

“The toxicology report is still pending but it’s not believed [drugs or alcohol] was a factor,” she said.

State Police crash reconstructionists will conduct the crash investigation, he said.

“We didn’t find any contraband in the van,” Watts said, adding “we’ve never run across him before.”

Brian Boyce can be reached at (812) 231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.