GROVERTOWN ― Police are now saying a suspected meth lab is what started a high-speed police chase that ended with two people dead.

Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen told WSBT one of his deputies was investigating a report of a possible meth lab when he saw a purple, older-model Mustang drive by. That car had been linked to the house in question, so the officer started to chase it.

Witnesses told WSBT the 1987 Ford Mustang was flying down a rural road with no headlights on when the driver lost control and hit some trees. The impact scattered debris everywhere, ejecting everyone inside.

The crash seriously injured the driver, Dale Hite, and killed passengers Amber McMillen and Nicholas White, all of Plymouth.

A few seconds later, the police cruiser that had been trying to catch up to the Mustang came up on the crash.

“The Mustang crash had already ended and the deputy's car was just driving through the debris field,” explained Indiana State Police Master Trooper Rick Hudson. “[The deputy] ended up striking one of the car's seats ― whether it was the driver's seat or the passenger seat lying in the road.”

Rex Ochs and another neighbor who saw the aftermath said State Police asked them not to talk on camera Monday before giving their statements to investigators, but off camera they told WSBT it looked like that deputy ran over one of the bodies in the road. Investigators said they don't think that happened.

“At this time, to the best of our knowledge, no. The deputy's car did not hit either deceased or the person that's still alive,” Hudson said.

But investigators are still double-checking everything, to be sure.

“We’re just going to make certain that he didn't hit anyone,” Hudson told WSBT.

As for the three people in the Mustang, court documents show they all have extensive police records.

Police believe Hite, 23, was driving the car. In the past, he’s been arrested for assisting a criminal, possession of meth, dealing meth, possession of marijuana and reckless driving.

McMillen, 30, died in the crash. Records show she’s been arrested for buying meth materials, possession of marijuana, public intoxication and burglary.

White, 25, also died. His criminal history shows arrests for public intoxication, possession of marijuana, resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness, operating while intoxicated and buying meth materials.

Hite was listed in good condition at Memorial Hospital Monday night.

Investigators are not releasing the crash report or dash cam video from the county police officer’s car, but state police are now handling the investigation and since it was such a serious crash that information will likely not be released for a long time.

The sheriff’s deputy who was chasing the Mustang is not in trouble, at this point. Monday was one of his scheduled days off, so he was not back on duty yet, but Sheriff Cowen said that deputy is not on any kind of administrative leave, and state police investigators said they don't think he did anything wrong.