BY CHERYL PATRICK LEADER STAFF WRITER
HAMLET — Nicholas Jacobs, 29, of Fort Wayne died from massive internal injuries he sustained when he took a nose-dive off the U.S. 30 overpass and smashed into U.S. 35 below in a wrecker he stole from Bob’s Towing in Plymouth Thursday night.
Jacobs had been released the same day from Westville Correctional Facility, where he’d been incarcerated for felony OWI and auto theft. The auto theft was for stealing the same wrecker a year and a half ago that he stole from Bob’s Towing Thursday.

Steve Hann, owner of Bob’s Towing was puzzled by Jacobs’ choice of transportation.
“I don’t have any idea why he would do this,” said Hann. “If you’re going to steal something to go to Chicago, why do you steal a roll back truck instead of some blue Chevy you see everywhere on the streets? I sure don’t understand it,” he said.
Despite rumors that the keys were left in the ignition, Hann said that wasn’t the case.
“I don’t know how he did it. The keys were hidden, they weren’t in the ignition,” Hann said.
Bob’s Towing has already been impacted by the loss of the wrecker.
“I’ve already missed two calls today because I don’t have that truck. It’s all in the insurance company’s hands now,” Hann said.
Hann said the wrecker was worth about $35,000.
Shortly after Jacobs stole the vehicle from the Plymouth business, Starke County dispatch was advised by Plymouth Police Department that a stolen wrecker hauling a van had left Plymouth and was heading westbound on U.S 30.
Officer Ryan Austin of the Hamlet Police Department reported that he observed the wrecker, driven by Jacobs, at approximately 11:10 p.m. heading westbound on U.S. 30. Austin said he followed the vehicle for awhile waiting for other police officers to respond to the area. Before other units arrived, Austin said the vehicle turned south on 600 East and pulled into a Hamlet gas station, just south of U.S. 30.
Starke County Deputy Kelly Fisher also arrived at the gas station as Austin was pulling in behind the suspect. Jacobs began to flee from Austin and Fisher who attempted unsuccessfully to box him in.  
Jacobs got back on 600 East and proceeded to head north to U.S. 30, where he turned westbound. However, Jacobs was in the eastbound lane. Officers continued pursuit of the vehicle.
When Jacobs reached the overpass at U.S. 30 and 35, he entered the median, situated between the two sections of bridge, and was airborne for more than 200 feet before he slammed into U.S. 35 below and then crashed into a bridge abutment.
Starke County officers Austin, Fisher and Adam Gray arrived on scene to find Jacobs trapped inside the wrecker.
Starke County EMS and Hamlet Fire were called to the scene. Jacobs had to be extricated from the wreckage by Hamlet Fire. LaPorte County EMS was also called to the scene for paramedic assistance, as Starke County doesn’t have paramedics on staff.
LaPorte County EMS medics transported Jacobs to LaPorte Hospital, where LaPorte County Coroner John Sullivan pronounced him dead at 12:35 a.m. CDT from massive internal injuries. Alcohol was a factor. Sullivan said Jacobs’ blood alcohol content was .25, more than three times the legal limit.
Knox Police Department, Hamlet Police Department, Starke County Sheriff's Department, Starke County Medic 5, Hamlet Fire Department, Koontz Lake Fire Department and LaPorte County paramedics all responded to the scene.