INDIANAPOLIS — Six Indiana State Police trooper vehicles in the Indianapolis district have been hit in just the last five days, all while responding to other crashes on icy roads.

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ISP sergeant calls it ‘heartbreaking’ as ‘selfish’ drivers hit trooper vehicles

The incidents come as troopers have investigated more than 600 crashes in the last five days in the Indianapolis district, according to ISP Sergeant John Perrine.

The ISP vehicles were hit while the troopers were on the side of the interstate responding to another crash.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s selfish drivers. People that drive with themselves in mind, not anyone else. They make poor decisions. They get in a hurry,” Perrine said. “Well, we’re very thankful and fortunate that none of them have suffered any serious injuries.”

The dangerous conditions persist as INDOT crews face challenges with traditional winter weather response methods. On Thursday, plow truck drivers are emptying salt from their trucks at their Indianapolis substation because the extreme cold temperatures make salt ineffective.

“We’re still seeing really cold temperatures, subzero overnight almost every night, so we can’t use salt when that happens. Anytime it’s under 15 degrees, our salt really isn’t effective. We’re dropping it, but it’s not activating,” said Jordan Yaney, public relations director for INDOT’s East Central District.

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High-speed crashes on icy roads have been on the rise in recent days.

“People are getting hurt, and that’s really a scary time for us,” Perrine said.

The North Split area has been particularly problematic, with drivers getting stuck in snow buildup when trying to navigate between lanes or exit ramps.

“What we were seeing is a lot of people sliding off and getting stuck because if you miss that exit by just a second, or you’re in the left lane and need to exit all the way over onto the right and you get caught in that buildup of snow, it’s really hard to get out of it—especially if you’re in a smaller car like a sedan,” Yaney said.

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INDOT crews plan to address the snow accumulation by pushing it over walls where they can safely do so as part of their cleanup response. However, there aren’t many places to put snow in the area, as crews typically push snow off mainline roads to shoulders, gores, and merge points during winter events.

As temperatures remain below freezing, Perrine warns drivers to be prepared for re-freezing and to slow down. He says the extended winter weather has been particularly challenging.

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“It’s probably the longest snow event that I can remember in my 23-year career,” Perrine said. “We’re just really tired of responding to the crashes of careless drivers.”

INDOT crews continue working long 12 and even 16-hour shifts to clear every lane from white line to white line, but with bitter cold holding on, slick spots will remain.

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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Pacers Bikeshare just recorded it’s 1 millionth ride since the program launch in 2014 according to a Thursday press release.

With the addition of two new programs, Pacers Bikeshare has seen significant growth in the past two years.

In 2024, they added the Indy Rides Free program with gives all Marion County Residents a free annual pass and free 30 minute rides in 2024.

In 2025, Pacers Bikeshare added stations at Butler University and created a Butler University pass which provides free access for Butler students, faculty and staff.

2025 was the most active in Pacers Bikeshare history with over 200,000 total rides.

Executive Director of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Kären Haley, said in a release, “Even with the cold and snow, Indy has embraced bikeshare as part of everyday life. More and more people are choosing bikeshare to commute, run errands, explore the city and stay active.”

Operated by Indianapolis Cultural Trail in partnership with the City of Indianapolis, Pacers Bikeshare provides a convenient, and sustainable transportation option throughout Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention on Monday night was conducting its yearly homelessness census.

Volunteers took to the streets to count how many people in Indianapolis are experiencing homelessness. The count includes people living in shelters, transitional housing, and unsheltered locations.
The count is federally mandated and has been required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development since 2005.

Along with the count, volunteers carry clothing, hygiene items and other supplies.

Volunteer Aaron Shaw said, “Out there on the streets, they run into a lot of issues and a lot of chaos and problems. We just like to be out there to give them somebody to talk to, a bridge between them and the services that are needed.”

The data will be used for annual planning and to find which areas in the city need the most resources.

This story was created from a script aired on WISH-TV.