Man Shot by Police During Standoff in Clay County

CLAY COUNTY, Ind — A state trooper was injured and a man was shot Tuesday evening after police say a stolen U-Haul rammed law enforcement vehicles during a standoff near State Roads 42 and 59.

Indiana State Police say officers tried to stop the U-Haul around 5:50 p.m. after an off-duty town marshal spotted the truck at a fueling station. The driver, identified as 47-year-old Dale L. Evans of Terre Haute, refused to stop and led officers on a short pursuit west on State Road 42 before turning down a private drive.

A woman riding with Evans jumped out and ran. Officers began negotiations, but police say Evans reversed the truck, nearly hit a Clay County deputy, and crashed into three patrol vehicles. He then drove forward again, stopping briefly before speeding directly toward a fully marked ISP vehicle with two troopers beside it. The U-Haul struck the cruiser with such force that one trooper was thrown into the air.

That’s when officers from the Terre Haute Police Department and Clay County Sheriff’s Office opened fire, hitting Evans. Medical teams treated him at the scene before he was flown by air ambulance to an Indianapolis hospital. His current condition has not been released.

The injured trooper was taken to a Terre Haute hospital and is expected to recover.

The woman who fled the U-Haul was taken to the Clay County Jail for questioning and later released.

Indiana State Police are leading the investigation. All officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard in officer-involved shootings.

A final report will be submitted to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office for review.