Indiana Officer Killed by Tractor-Trailer Tires

**PapaBear** · 10-11-07, 01:55 PM

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. --

A Shelbyville police officer was killed late Wednesday night when two rear dual tires and wheel from a tractor-trailer fell off the truck and struck him as he stood alongside the State Road 44 ramp to Interstate 74 eastbound, police said.

Sgt. Gary Henderson (pictured), 51, had been sent to back up a Shelby County sheriff's deputy who had made a traffic stop on a vehicle that was believed to have been stolen that had two juveniles inside.

Police said that the tractor-trailer was going past the scene at about 11:40 p.m. when the rear passenger-side tires and wheels came off the trailer. The tractor-trailer's driver was apparently unaware of what happened and continued on the interstate for a few miles before he was stopped.

Officials said Henderson was taking pictures of the traffic stop when he was struck. Police called what happened a tragic accident and said it was not likely that the tractor-trailer driver would face charges.

"He was stopped by officers on the scene about three miles down the road," said Shelby County sheriff's Capt. Roger Clark.

A motorcade left Shelbyville late Thursday morning to retrieve Henderson's body, which had been taken to Hamilton County, Ohio for an autopsy.

Members of the Shelbyville Police Department gathered in the square downtown early Thursday morning to lower a flag to be presented to the fallen officer's family.

Henderson had been with the department for 29 years and had many ties to the community, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

"He was a very good guy, a family man, and was looking forward to retirement in a few years," Clark said.

"It's going to be very sad because this is a close-knit community and it's a small town. Just about everybody knows everybody," said resident Cathy Ping.

Henderson's squad car was parked in front of the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center, draped in a black cloth.

Eastbound I-74 was shut down for four hours after the crash and traffic was diverted through Shelbyville.

Police said the juveniles inside the suspected stolen car were not injured and were taken to the Johnson County Juvenile Detention facility.

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From o.com and ODMP

**BigDawg** · 10-11-07, 02:02 PM

Wow how tragic.

RIP my Brother

**Jenna** · 10-11-07, 02:04 PM

Rest in peace.

**MacLean** · 10-11-07, 02:05 PM

That really sucks.

A similar accident happened here not too long ago, but without nearly the same tragic outcome.

**Wolven** · 10-11-07, 02:19 PM

How sad. Prayers to his family.

**Pudge** · 10-11-07, 02:24 PM

Rest Easy

**Willowdared** · 10-11-07, 02:35 PM

Thoughts and prayers enroute.

I've seen something similiar....I was driving with my Mother and Grandmother when one of those huge dump trucks lost one of the back tires...one of a double set....so the truck kept on driving. These tires had to be better then 6 feet in diameter!

All we could do was watch in horror and pray as it bounced across the lanes of traffic on our side...over the center barrier...then across the lanes on the other side.

It was a miracle that no one's vehicle was hit.