Trooper injured in Shelby County crash

A state trooper was seriously injured this morning in a crash on Interstate 74 in Shelby County when his stopped cruiser was rear-ended by an SUV.

State police say that the incident happened at about 2:48 this morning, while Master Trooper Jeremy Basso was assisting a construction crew on I-74 westbound. Basso’s car was parked in a closed lane behind a crew of construction workers and his emergency lights were activated. The lane was closed about a half mile before the crash site, and the area was marked by signs and orange construction barrels.

Basso was able to exit his vehicle and radio for help. He was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the SUV, 21-year-old Mason Durrett of Indianapolis, appears to have struck several of the construction barrels before hitting the police car. After being taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries, he was arrested on a preliminary charge of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury.

Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police.