www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060822/NEWS01/60822030

Two off-duty police officers on a cross-state bicycle ride for charity died today in a traffic accident in western Indiana, a state police spokesman said.

Ind. Route 63 just south of I-74 is littered with debris left when a truck was pushed into a group of bicycle riders today. Two police officers riding in the group were killed. - MATT DETRICH / The Star
 
The box truck collided with a smaller support truck that was following the riders about 12:30 p.m. on Ind. 63 near Perrysville, about five miles east of the Illinois border, First Sgt. Brian Olehy said. The impact sent the smaller truck into the line of 10 riders.
Gary Dudley, an Indiana State Police lieutenant and Gary Martin, the former Lake County police chief, were killed according to Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts.

Another rider, Spencer Moore, a retired Indianapolis police officer, was airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign, Ill., Watts said.

Police across the state are mourning the loss, Olehy said. The riders spent Monday night with Olehy and his family.

“My wife and I cooked dinner for them,” Olehy said. “Memories I will always cherish.”

The officers were taking part in a 13-day bicycle trek across the state to raise money for the survivors of fallen officers.

The 1,058-mile ride began last Wednesday from the Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial near the Statehouse. More than 30 bicyclists were expected to participate in portions of the ride; eight cyclists were planning to ride the entire route.

The officers were said to be on a stretch heading from Boswell to Terre Haute and were scheduled to wrap up at 5:30 today. They were expected to reach Newport around 2:30 p.m.

The officers were doing the ride in segments, heading east out of Indianapolis to Richmond last week, then across the northern tier of the state, and then down south along the western border of the state.

Money raised supports Indiana Concerns of Police Survivors, which provides support for families of officers killed in the line of duty and helps send them to Washington, D.C., for annual memorial services.




Spencer Moore is the father of one of the Officers currently working the district that I work at.  My thoughts are with him and his father and his father's speedy recovery as well as the families of the officers lost in the crash.

We just received an update - Spencer Moore has a lot of road rash and pain however no broken bones and may be released as early as tomorrow.

All of us troopers are extremely saddened by this horrible event and we have definitely lost a valuable asset.  Gary Dudley was highly thought of in our department and I am sure others also.  He will be missed!!  We wish the best for his family and the family of the other officer killed in the crash as well.