The Indiana State Police was requested to investigate a fatal crash that involved a LaPorte County police car.

The investigation showed that a suspect, Melissa Collins, 21, of Lafayette, had been handcuffed and secured in the front passenger seat of a Ford Explorer police car.

Investigators say Collins was able to manipulate the handcuffs, unbuckled the seatbelt, took possession of the police car, and drove off.

Officers tried to catch up to the stolen squad car but lost sight of it… until they came upon debris in the area of 2100 South and 875 West, then found the police car in a ditch submerged in water.

Investigators say the vehicle crashed after crossing a set of railroad tracks at an extremely high rate of speed.

Collins was found inside the car and pronounced dead.