South Bend man crashes car during two-county police pursuit

A South Bend man was injured early Saturday after he lost control of his car and it crashed during a police pursuit in Noble County. Bruce Stahl, 43, is listed in fair condition at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, according to a hospital nursing supervisor. Stahl was airlifted from the crash scene on Indiana 9. A LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department report states police tried to stop Stahl for a traffic infraction at 12:10 a.m. at 102 N. Main St. in Wolcottville. Stahl sped up and then hit his brakes, trying to force an accident with the police vehicle, the report states. Stahl drove south on Indiana 9 and lost control of his car on a curve, on the south side of Rome City in Noble County. The car skidded across the road into a ditch and rolled several times, landing on its top. He was trapped in the crushed car and extricated by firefighters. Charges to be filed with the LaGrange County Prosecutor’s Office are expected to include resisting law enforcement, driving while intoxicated and habitual traffic offender, the report stated. The pursuit involved several agencies including Indiana State Police, Noble County Sheriff’s Department, Rome City and Ligonier police, Noble County EMS and Orange Township Fire Department.