A police pursuit ended with death in LaPorte County when a wanted man crashed his vehicle into a tree.

It was around 3:50 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, when LaPorte County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of County Road 150 North and County Road 500 West after receiving reports of a wanted individual, Robert F. Bartels, 44.

Deputies spotted a vehicle matching the description traveling northbound on County Road 500 West. When they attempted a traffic stop, Bartles refused to pull over, leading officers on a chase.

The pursuit came to a violent end in the 6300 block of County Road 250 North, where Bartels’ truck veered off the road and crashed into a tree.

Emergency crews had to extricate him from the wreckage, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bartels was wanted by the LaPorte Police Department for leaving the scene of an incident, a Class B misdemeanor.

Authorities say toxicology results are pending. The crash remains under investigation.