STEUBEN CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office says that a man who had been drinking hit a deputy’s squad car on Sunday.
It happened in Angola when Deputy Shane Matchette was on routine patrol.
Officials say that he was on Maumee Street at 10 p.m. when a Dodge Caravan pulled out of the Speedway station just east of I-69 and directly into his path, according to a sheriff’s press release.
The release said that he tried to avoid the crash but couldn’t. An Angola Police officer made the scene and determined alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, according to the sheriff’s release.
Guerrero, of Angola, was then arrested on misdemeanor counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering a person, operating a vehicle while never receiving a valid license and false informing.
Both Matchette and the driver of the Caravan, 57-year-old Candido L. Guerrero, suffered minor injuries.
The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office released the following:
A Steuben County Sheriff’s deputy was involved in an on-duty minor personal injury traffic accident over the past weekend. On Sunday, 04/24/2022 just after 10:00 pm, Deputy Shane Matchette was conducting routine patrol activities traveling eastbound on Maumee St from I-69 in the city of Angola driving a fully marked white 2018 Dodge Charger police car. As Deputy Matchette was approaching the Speedway gas station just east of I69, a green 2003 Dodge Caravan driven by 57 year old Candido L. Guerrero of Angola, pulled out of the gas station onto Maumee St directly into the path of Deputy Matchette’s vehicle. Deputy Matchettte attempted to avoid a collision but was unable to and the two vehicles collided. Both Deputy Matchette and Mr. Guerrero sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash. During the initial crash investigation conducted by the Angola Police, alcohol was determined to be a factor. It was also determined that Guerrero’s vehicle was not insured.
The roadway was wet at the time of the crash from a recent rain. At the conclusion of the initial crash scene investigation, Guerrero was booked into the Steuben County Jail on the following criminal charges:
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person – Class A Misdemeanor Operating a Vehicle While Never Receiving a Valid License – Class C Misdemeanor False Informing – Class B Misdemeanor
Guerrero subsequently posted 10% of a $2,500.00 bond and was released. Deputy Matchette has made a full recovery and is back to work. The incident remains under investigation by the Angola Police Department. Assisting Angola Police at the scene were the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, Angola Fire Department, Steuben County EMS, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.
