Scott County, IN : Charlestown officer dies in Scott Co. crash on Indiana 3 on Wednesday, 12th December 2018

A 35-year-old Charlestown police officer has died after crashing during a car chase Wednesday night.

Indiana State Police said Charlestown Officer Benton Bertram tried to stop a teal 1998 Toyota Corolla for a traffic violation. The suspect, Benjamin Eads, 35, of Freedom fled north on Indiana 3 into Scott County.

Bertram, a nine-year veteran of the Charlestown department, chased the suspect until the officer’s vehicle went off the road near the east junction of Indiana 3 and 56, east of Scottsburg.

Bertram’s cruiser hit a tree in the front yard of a residence. Bertram was dead at the scene.

Eads was taken to the Scott County Jail after being apprehended in Clark County later Wednesday night. He faces charges of felony resisting law enforcement causing death in Scott County and felony resisting law enforcement and felony auto theft in Clark County.

The crash and pursuit were still under investigation Thursday morning by Indiana State Police crash reconstructionists and detectives.

The Jeffersonville City Police Department, Clark County Sheriff’s Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Scott County EMS, Scottsburg City Fire Department and Johnson Township Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the scene.

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