At the conclusion of each year, the Journal Review regularly publishes a recount of the top local stories, and this year is no different. With the help of Google analytics, the Journal Review has identified our Most Read News Stories of 2020.
In the coming days, we will revisit these stories and provide updates, when necessary.
This is the third installment.
Police pursuit ends in fatal crash at Interstate 74 and State Road 32
In May, a Noblesville man died after a high-speed pursuit across multiple counties ended in a crash at Interstate 74 and State Road 32.
The pursuit began in Hamilton County shortly after 12:30 p.m. when Edward Albright, 45, stole a Noblesville police officer’s squad car, a Hamilton County dispatcher said. The officer, who was off-duty at the time, was flagged down to assist at a battery investigation in a parking lot near State Road 37 and 141st Street. She was treated for minor injuries following the altercation.
Albright later ditched the squad car and stole a 2006 Toyota Avalon, Montgomery County Sheriff Ryan Needham confirmed.
A rifle may have been inside the vehicle, according to scanner traffic.
The chase continued onto Interstate 74, reaching speeds in excess of 120 m.p.h. in Montgomery County, according to scanner traffic.
Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office were made aware of the situation at 1:05 p.m. when the pursuit entered Montgomery County. The suspect was being pursued by officers from Noblesville, Indianapolis Metropolitan and Jamestown police departments.
“We were getting here to try to set up some stop sticks and hopefully end it,” Montgomery County Sheriff Ryan Needham said. “(We) were setting up when the suspect began to exit the interstate.”
Albright, driving a stolen 2006 Toyota Avalon, initially collided with a 2005 Buick passenger car that was stopped on the ramp behind a semi-trailer driven by Jerry Hayes, 41, of Marion, Michigan.
The Toyota sideswiped the Buick, operated by 76-year-old Chester Leatherman of Russellville, before striking the rear end of the trailer. The suspect’s vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage and came to a stop on the west side of the ramp.
Leatherman was transported to Franciscan Health Crawfordsville for non-life threatening injuries. Hayes was not injured.
Toddler struck by truck on 47N
In April, a toddler was transported to an Indianapolis hospital after being struck by a pickup truck on State Road 47N.
Montgomery County Sheriff Ryan Needham reported that officers were dispatched at 4:02 p.m. April 3 to the 2100 block of State Road 47N regarding a personal injury crash.
When deputies arrived a short time later they discovered a 2002 Ford F-150 pickup truck had been traveling southwest on State Road 47 when a two-year-old child entered the roadway. The truck struck the child, left the roadway and struck some trees and brush.
The child was initially transported to Franciscan Health Crawfordsville and later transported to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis.
The driver of the truck was not injured. Police did not release the driver’s identity or the child’s name.
County confirms first case of COVID 19
On March 25, the Journal Review reported that the Montgomery County Health Department, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Indiana State Department of Health, had confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus in a Montgomery County resident. The adult patient was hospitalized in another county.
The county was working closely with the Indiana State Department of Health to identify any close contacts of the patient who might have been exposed to ensure that appropriate precautions are taken in accordance with the latest CDC guidance. At the time, the risk to the public was believed to be low. The Montgomery County Health Department notified those who have had direct contact with the individual once they are identified.
“Like many cities and counties in Indiana, we knew we would soon identify a patient in our community infected with the COVID-19 virus,” said Dr. Scott Douglas, Montgomery County Health Officer. “This should not trigger alarm but a renewed sense of responsibility for all of us to do what we can to limit the spread of this infection to our neighbors, friends, family and co-workers. Working as a community, with concern for each other, we can limit the number of people who become infected.”
As of Tuesday, 2,750 positive cases have been confirmed with 46 deaths.
