The incident began on the morning of September 14 when a state trooper spotted a Mercedes speeding at over 100 mph on U.S. 6, just west of Ligonier. The trooper attempted to pull the vehicle over, but instead, the driver of the Mercedes fled, initiating a chase. The pursuit occurred on several roads around Ligonier, and as the chase continued south on State Road 5, heading toward Ligonier, the trooper decided to end the pursuit due to the danger it posed to the public.
Despite the police ending the chase, the driver of the Mercedes continued to drive recklessly. A short time later, the vehicle disregarded a traffic light at the intersection of U.S. 6 and U.S. 33, where it collided with the rear of an SUV. The SUV had just turned onto U.S. 33 from U.S. 6 when it was struck, causing the vehicle to be forced off the road and into a ditch, where it landed on its side. After hitting the SUV, the Mercedes then sideswiped another car traveling northbound before becoming disabled and coming to a stop.
The driver of the Mercedes was identified as 23-year-old Ethan Azra, a resident of Cromwell, Indiana. Azra, the sole occupant of the vehicle, suffered serious injuries in the crash. The occupants of the SUV were also severely affected; the passenger was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition, while the driver was hospitalized in serious condition. Meanwhile, the two individuals in the car that was sideswiped sustained only minor injuries.
Tragically, the passenger of the SUV, identified as 37-year-old Justin Yoder of Goshen, Indiana, succumbed to his injuries later that day, making the crash a fatal one. Yoder’s death escalated the charges against Azra, who was subsequently arrested following a completed investigation.
On Thursday, September 26, Indiana State Police troopers apprehended Azra at his home in Cromwell. Following the investigation into the crash and chase, an arrest warrant was issued by the Noble County Circuit Court, leading to his arrest. He is currently being held without bond and faces a series of serious charges.
The charges against Azra include:
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Causing Death (Level 3 Felony): This charge is related to his decision to flee from the police, which ultimately led to a crash that resulted in Justin Yoder’s death.
- Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death (BAC .08 or more) (Level 4 Felony): Authorities determined that Azra was intoxicated at the time of the crash, and this charge pertains to his driving under the influence, which contributed to the fatal outcome.
- Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury (BAC .08 or more) (Level 4 Felony): This charge is connected to the serious injuries sustained by the driver of the SUV.
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Causing Serious Injury (Level 5 Felony): This charge involves the serious injuries caused to the SUV driver during Azra’s attempt to evade law enforcement.
- Two counts of Resisting Law Enforcement Causing Bodily Injury (Level 6 Felony): These charges address the minor injuries sustained by the two individuals in the sideswiped vehicle.
- Operating a Vehicle Without Ever Having Received a License (Prior) (Level A Misdemeanor): It was also discovered that Azra had no valid driver’s license, and this misdemeanor charge reflects his unlawful operation of a vehicle.
The tragic outcome of this incident underscores the dangers of high-speed pursuits and the devastating consequences that can result from reckless driving and attempting to evade law enforcement. The death of Justin Yoder has deeply impacted his family and the local community, while the surviving victims of the crash continue to recover from their injuries.
As Azra faces multiple serious charges, the legal process will now take its course. The charges he faces carry significant penalties, and his actions leading up to and during the chase will likely weigh heavily on the court’s considerations. The incident has also raised questions about the risks associated with police chases and the balance between pursuing suspects and ensuring public safety.
Azra’s arrest marks the conclusion of the initial investigation, but the legal battle surrounding this tragic event is only beginning. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of fleeing from law enforcement and driving under the influence, as the lives of many were irrevocably altered by one individual’s actions.