A rural Auburn man drove a Jeep through a closed garage door to get away from police Monday morning, but soon crashed into a tree and died, according to the Indiana State Police.
About 9:15 a.m., a DeKalb County sheriff’s deputy was sent to check on the welfare of 27-year-old Casey Allen May at a home in the 5300 block of County Road 51, authorities said.
The deputy was able to speak with May through a window. But May went into the garage, got into a Jeep and busted through the garage door. The Jeep then struck the deputy’s squad car before speeding away south on County Road 51, state police said.
A second deputy, who arrived just as May left, turned on his lights and sirens and tried to catch up with the Jeep. Then, about a mile south of the home, the Jeep drove off the west side of County Road 51, hit a tree head-on and caught fire.
May died at the scene, state police said. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
