Man fleeing police crashes car

A Rockford man made a possible impaired driving citation even worse by trying to flee from the officer who attempted to stop him in the 300 block of North Race Street early Sunday morning. Gabriel Spradlin, 26, was listed in fair condition earlier this morning at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., with injuries sustained when his car hit a utility pole and house about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. A Van Wert police officer attempted to stop Spradlin’s 1995 Chevrolet Camaro on suspicion of impaired driving in the 300 block of North Franklin Street, but Spradlin took off at a high rate of speed south on Race Street. The car became airborne when it crossed the railroad tracks at Jackson Street and Spradlin began to lose control of the vehicle as it crossed Main Street. The car was completely out of control by the time it got to Central Avenue, where it hit and broke off a stop sign and a power pole before hitting a residence that had once housed nurses who trained at the former Van Wert County Hospital (above). Spradlin, who was trapped briefly in the vehicle, was freed by Van Wert Fire and EMS personnel (below) and first taken to Van Wert Hospital and then to Parkview. The crash is still under investigation by troopers from the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and alcohol is believed to be a factor. Charges are pending. (photos by Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)