Coroner IDs motorcyclist killed during NW Indiana pursuit

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - A motorcyclist killed while fleeing from northwest Indiana police after apparently losing control of his bike at a roundabout and crashing was a 35-year-old Lafayette man, a coroner said Thursday.

Kyle Plunkett died from blunt force trauma in Tuesday night's brief police chase, Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello said following an autopsy.

Costello ruled the death an accident. Final results are pending toxicology reports, the Journal & Courier reported.

A Tippecanoe County sheriff's deputy began the pursuit about 9 p.m. Tuesday after he spotted the motorcyclist riding a wheelie and clocked him going 85 mph (136.8 kilometers per hour), police said.

The deputy turned around and began following the motorcycle with lights and sirens, but he wasn't able to keep up, police said. However, the deputy was able to track the motorcycle because it was kicked up dust as the biker sped away.

The deputy soon arrived at a roundabout and discovered the crash scene, with the bike's driver already dead at the site just south of Lafayette, police said.

Indiana State Police are investigating the crash near Lafayette, which is located about 65 miles (104 kilometers) northwest of Indianapolis