RICHMOND, IN — A Richmond man was critically injured after a police pursuit ended in a crash involving an Amazon delivery truck, according to Richmond police. Officers tried to stop Brian Burdette while he was driving a red 2010 GMC Acadia near Northwest Fifth and West Main streets.
Police said Burdette had outstanding felony warrants and refused to pull over. The chase continued until it reached the area of South 16th and South I streets, where investigators say his SUV struck the delivery truck while he tried to avoid it.
Outstanding felony warrants led officers to try the stop
Richmond police said Burdette was wanted on warrants for Level 2 felony dealing in methamphetamine and Level 6 felony possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug. Those warrants were the reason patrol and SAFE officers moved in to stop him.
Instead of stopping, police say Burdette fled. The pursuit involved Richmond Police Department patrol officers and SAFE officers as they followed the SUV through city streets.
The confrontation became a short but serious chase that ended only after the collision near South 16th and South I streets. Police have not said how fast the vehicles were traveling or how long the pursuit lasted.
Crash happened as the SUV tried to avoid the delivery truck
According to police, the crash happened when Burdette struck an Amazon delivery truck while attempting to avoid it. The impact stopped the pursuit and left the SUV disabled in the 900 block of South 16th Street.
After the collision, Burdette’s vehicle came to rest in a yard nearby. The scene drew multiple agencies to help secure the area and investigate what happened.
Police did not immediately provide additional details about the Amazon driver or whether anyone else was hurt in the crash.
Burdette was taken to Indiana and then transferred to Dayton
Burdette was first taken to Reid Health in Richmond for treatment, police said. He was later transferred to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, where he remained in critical condition.
Officials did not release additional medical details about his injuries. They did confirm that his condition was serious enough to require transport to the out-of-state hospital after the initial treatment at Reid Health.
The crash left emergency workers managing both the medical response and the investigation at the same time.
State police reconstruction team investigated the collision
The Indiana State Police accident reconstruction team responded to examine the crash. That type of team typically helps piece together how a collision happened by reviewing physical evidence, vehicle positions and roadway conditions.
Richmond police also credited several local agencies for helping at the scene, including the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Reid Health Police Department, Wayne County Emergency Operations Center and Richmond Fire Department.
Authorities have not said whether Burdette will face additional charges tied to the pursuit or the crash. For now, investigators are focused on the collision and the events that led up to it.
Richmond police thanked multiple agencies for helping at the scene
In a statement, Richmond police thanked the agencies that assisted during the response. The department said support came from the Indiana State Police, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Reid Health Police Department, Wayne County Emergency Operations Center and Richmond Fire Department.
The coordination between those agencies helped close down the immediate scene, route emergency care and begin the reconstruction process. Police did not say when the investigation might be completed.
The incident began with a wanted driver and ended with a critical injury, leaving officers and investigators to sort out a crash that unfolded quickly on city streets.
