INDIANA — A person was found dead inside a vehicle Sunday afternoon after crashing into a light pole at a Walmart parking lot in Bloomington, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded around noon to a 911 call reporting an unconscious person inside a vehicle at the Walmart located at 3585 W. State Road 45.
Witnesses told dispatchers that the car had struck a concrete light pole base and that several aggressive dogs inside the vehicle were preventing bystanders from reaching the driver.
When deputies and first responders arrived, they found the driver deceased inside the vehicle. However, efforts to assist the individual were delayed due to the dogs’ aggressive behavior.
Eventually, firefighters managed to open the car door, at which point approximately eight dogs escaped and began charging at bystanders. At least one firefighter and one civilian were bitten and transported to the hospital for treatment.
Authorities set up a containment zone and captured five of the dogs on the Walmart property. The remaining three were located later that day.
All of the animals were taken to an animal shelter. Deputies said they were unsure of the exact number of dogs originally in the car.
Security footage from the parking lot showed the driver slowly navigating the lot and crashing into the pole earlier that morning. Investigators believe the driver suffered a medical emergency, though the exact cause of death has not been determined by the coroner’s office.
The deceased, who has not yet been identified, was reportedly living out of the vehicle and was frequently seen parked at the Walmart. Deputies do not suspect foul play.
