Only six states have had more traffic fatalities result from police pursuits than Ohio since 2007, according to an analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

From 2007 to 2011 — the latest numbers available — Ohio has had 64 police pursuits that have ended with the death of a law enforcement officer, the suspect being pursued, the occupant of another vehicle or a bystander. Only Texas, California, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania and Alabama had more.

Ohio narrowly avoided adding to that number Tuesday when a state highway patrol officer sustained minor injuries after nearly being struck by a stolen car fleeing from police. Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Sharese Williams — a 10-year member of highway patrol’s Lebanon post — was deploying stop sticks around 10 p.m. at Ohio 63 and Markey Road near Lebanon when a stolen vehicle, driven by Trevon D. Broomfield of Dayton, missed hitting her by a foot before crashing into the rear of her cruiser.

Williams sustained an injured finger and the agency’s 2010 Ford Crown Vic — valued at $20,000 with equipment — was totaled, but officials know the ending could have been worse. The circumstances were similar to a high-speed police pursuit and crash that took the life of Warren County sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Dulle in 2011.

“I don’t think she could have done anything better; she backed out of the way just in time,” said Lt. Matt Hamilton of the OSHP.

Broomfield, 21, reportedly stole a 2005 Nissan Sentra from 7919 Tawna Court in West Chester Twp. just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, according to township police. The vehicle was spotted in the area of Tylersville and Cox roads, and officers began following it onto Interstate 75, said Officer Jeff Newman.

The pursuit, which involved units from West Chester, Lebanon, Monroe and the OSHP, reached speeds in excess of 100 mph, troopers said. The chase ended with Broomfield crashing the stolen car and being ejected from the vehicle. He remained hospitalized Wednesday at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, where police officials said he was in stable condition.

Nationally, an average of 358 fatalities a year were related to police pursuits from 2000-2011, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The rate of fatalities in Ohio averages 12 per year since 2000.

The last law enforcement fatality from a high-speed pursuit in Butler and Warren counties happened in May 2011 when Dulle was hit and killed by a fleeing suspect’s vehicle while deploying stop sticks on U.S. 42. His death subsequently brought into question the pursuit policies of some area police departments.

Area law enforcement agencies contacted by the Middletown Journal/Hamilton JournalNews reported recording between three and 15 police pursuits each in 2012. The Hamilton Police Department was involved in 15 pursuits — resulting in five crashes and two minor injuries, none to police officers or cruisers, said Detective Richard Burkhardt.

Middletown’s police department could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The OSHP posts in Hamilton and Lebanon recorded a combined seven pursuits last year, officials said. None of those pursuits resulted in crashes involving police cruisers.

“Each pursuit has its own merit determined,” said Sgt. Charles O’Bryon of the Lebanon post. “It depends on traffic and road conditions and seriousness of the offense.”

In Hamilton, the police pursuit policy details that an officer must discontinue the pursuit when certain information, including license number and the vehicle make, are obtained. The policy states that officers must “constantly re-evaluate the situation to determine the need to immediately apprehend a suspect, balanced against the danger to life and/or property created by the pursuit.”

Burkhardt said he’s had personal experience in being harmed during a police pursuit. Several years ago, his police cruiser was purposefully hit by a suspect while he was blocking a road to help stop the pursuit. Burkhardt said his cruiser sustained more injury than he did.

In West Chester Twp., officers were involved in seven pursuits last year, according to Newman.

“If it’s risking the lives of others, (protocol) says to discontinue the pursuit,” Newman said.

Tuesday’s incident remains under investigation, and criminal charges against Broomfield are expected from both West Chester Police and OSHP. Pending charges include auto theft, traffic offenses, failure to comply, and felony fleeing and eluding.

Broomfield was convicted in August 2010 by a Montgomery County court for burglary and sentenced to five years probation. He was again convicted in November 2011 in Montgomery County for grand theft motor vehicle. He was sentenced to 12 months confinement in that case, according to records from the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts.

Broomfield had reportedly met the owner of the Nissan Sentra at the Tawna Court address to test drive the vehicle — which was reportedly listed on Craigslist.com, according to Barb Wilson, public information officer for West Chester police. When Broomfield didn’t return the vehicle, the owner called police to report the stolen car, police said.