The preliminary crash investigation by Master Trooper Bryan Rumple revealed that Senior Trooper Weston Shanks was traveling westbound on State Road 22 near County Road 600 E in his department-issued Dodge Charger on routine patrol. A Ford F-450 pulling a utility trailer driven by Beau D. Jaqua, 44, Indianapolis, was also traveling westbound on State Road 22 in front of Senior Trooper Shanks. The Ford slowed down to make a right turn into the Lecom Utility complex from State Road 22. For an undetermined reason, the Charger rear-ended the trailer being pulled by the Ford. The Charger traveled off the south side of the roadway and came to a final rest in the ditch.
Senior Trooper Shanks, a 13-year state police veteran, was transported to Lutheran Hospital by air ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. Jaqua did not sustain any injury during this crash.
This is an ongoing investigation. At this time, neither the consumption of alcoholic beverages nor narcotics are suspected of contributing to this crash.
Master Trooper Rumple was assisted by members of the Indiana State Police Peru Post, Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post, Indiana State Police Pendleton Post, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Gas City Police Department, Gas City Fire Department, Grant County EMS, Grant County EMA, Swayzee Towing, and Lutheran Air.
