5 go to hospital after North Liberty man flees South Bend traffic stop, starts 4-car crash

SOUTH BEND — The St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team is investigating a multiple-vehicle crash on the city's northwest side Tuesday night.

The collision occurred at 6:07 p.m. at the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Walnut Street after an attempted traffic stop, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's office reported. One passenger was critically injured.

Investigators from FACT determined through initial reports that a South Bend Police officer tried to conduct a traffic stop on a 33-year-old male driver from North Liberty. The prosecutor's office said the man did not pull over, rather, he accelerated south on Walnut Street and disregarded a red light at the intersection of Walnut Street and Colfax Avenue, hitting three cars, one of which rolled over.

The passenger in the North Liberty man's vehicle was reported to be critically injured, and she was transported to the hospital. The North Liberty driver and the drivers of the other three vehicles in the crash were transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

This incident remains under investigation. No deaths have been reported at this time.

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: North Liberty man fleeing South Bend traffic stop hits 3 cars, 5 hurt