Driver arrested after hitting trooper's car during traffic stop, ISP said

WARRICK COUNTY, Ind. — A Kentucky driver was arrested Monday morning after reportedly hitting an Indiana State trooper's car during a traffic stop and then attempting to hide, police said.

Eduardo Stevens Gari, 29, of Louisville was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a wreck and failure to yield to a stationary emergency vehicle after the collision at 10:37 a.m. Monday.

This is what happened according to a release from Indiana State Police:

Master Trooper Ken Miller and Senior Trooper Brenda Tubbs had stopped a vehicle on Interstate 64 east near the Mile Marker 37 when the driver of an eastbound Dodge van — later identified as Gari — failed to move over as required by law and sideswiped one of the patrol cars. No one was inside the patrol car that was hit. Neither of the troopers was hurt.

After the crash, Gari pulled off onto the emergency shoulder about a half-mile east, left the van and walked around before getting back inside and then driving east on I-64. Tubbs immediately started east on I-64 and noticed the vehicle had exited the interstate and was turning south on Indiana 61. Tubbs drove south on Indiana 61 about a quarter-mile and found the driver had pulled off of the highway on the east side behind trees and brush.

Gari was taken to the Warrick County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

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