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Last updated on Monday, August 27, 2018
(CORTLAND) - Four teens were killed after a two-vehicle accident near Cortland.
The crash happened about 11 p.m. Saturday in the 4400 block of State Road 258.
According to a press release from Jackson County Officer J.L. McElfresh, the accident happened when a 1992 Chevrolet Suburban driven by 37-year-old Cara Selby, of rural Seymour, broke down not far from her home on State Road 258.
Several teenagers, who were at a slumber birthday party, came out to push the vehicle to the house when they were struck from behind by a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse driven by 24-year-old Elizabeth M. Watson, of Seymour.
The four teens were killed - 14-year-old Nevaeh Law and 16-year-old Brittany Watson, both of Brownstown and 14-year-old Jenna Helton and 16-year-old Martin Martinez, both of Seymour.
The party was for Nevaeh Law, who would have turned 15 on Sept. 5th.
According to Jackson County Coroner Michael Bobb, Helton, Law and Watson died at the scene.
Martinez was flown to an Indianapolis hospital where he later died, Bobb added.
Four other teens were struck by the vehicle and injured - Cara Selby's daughter 15-year-old Victoria Valdivia was flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and is expected to recover; 14-year-old Courtney Arthur was taken to Riley Hospital for Children; 15 year-old Allerika Henline, of Brownstown, was flown to Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville, Ky.; 15-year-old Victoria Burchard, of Medora, was treated at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour and released and 12-year-old Starlit Watson, of Brownstown, who was riding in the Suburban with Selby, was also treated and released at Schneck Medical Center.
Elizabeth Watson, who is not related to Brittany and Starlit Watson, has not been cited in the incident and was not injured.
The scene shows the two vehicles skidded about 200 feet after the collision before they came to a rest.
Flowers and balloons were secured to a utility pole along the road near the scene of the accident.
Both Seymour and Brownstown Central high schools planned to provide extra assistance to students Monday to help them deal with the deaths of their classmates.
The sheriff's department said the investigation is continuing, and anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call the sheriff's office at (812) 358-2141.
McElfresh and Jackson County Officer Mitch Ray were the first officers to respond to the wreck, and they were assisted by Detectives Bob Lucas and Tom Barker.
Also assisting at the scene were officers with Brownstown and Seymour police departments, and medical personnel and firefighters with Hamilton Township Volunteer Fire Department and Jackson County Emergency Medical Services personnel.
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