Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Monday, May 6, 2013
(JASPER COUNTY) - Police said college students going home were involved in a second fatal crash on northbound Interstate 65 after traffic was backed up from a previous fatal crash Saturday afternoon.
The crash occurred just north of the Wolcott/Remington exit just before 3 p.m.
Officials said a preliminary investigation found that a Ford Explorer, driven by 21-year-old Christin Gelinas, of Valparaiso, was traveling northbound in the left lane and was slowing down for an earlier fatal accident.
Shannon Morrison, 20, of Wheatfield, was also in the left lane, driving a Mercury Sable, and realized traffic was slowing down. She swerved to the right to avoid a car in front of her and lost control, police said.
Authorities said the Sable hit the Explorer on the passenger side and caused the Explorer to roll.
Melissa Gelinas, 51, mother of Christin, was the front-seat passenger in the Explorer. Police said she was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene from massive blunt force trauma by the Jasper County Coroner.
Police said Christin Gelinas was taken to Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer with abrasions to her knees. She was wearing her seatbelt.
Morrison was also wearing a seatbelt and was not injured. Officials said she was cited for Unsafe Lane Movement.
Police said neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor in the crash.
All northbound traffic was stopped at the location for the earlier fatal crash. All lanes were reopened just before 6 p.m.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.