HENRY CO.- The Henry County Prosecutor, Michael J. Mahoney, announced on Wednesday he filed criminal charges against the juvenile female driver stemming from a fatal crash that occurred on April 10, 2023. The incident involved a single-vehicle crash, resulting in the death of a fifteen-year-old female.
The advanced crash reconstruction, completed by Master Trooper Jeremy J. Perez, determined the female driver operated the vehicle at an unsafe speed into a curve and caused the driver to lose control.
The juvenile driver was preliminarily charged with criminal recklessness and criminal homicide, both Level 5 felonies, and was released to her parents.
On April 10, 2023, at approximately 9:50 p.m., Henry County Dispatch received a 911 report of a single-vehicle crash near the 4000 block of South Kennard Road. Responding officers from the Indiana State Police Pendleton District and Henry County Sheriff’s Department arrived within two minutes of the original call.
A preliminary investigation by Trooper JT Burns revealed that a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by a juvenile from New Castle was traveling northbound on Kennard Road near County Road 450 S. For an undetermined reason, the Chevrolet Cobalt left the roadway, went into a field, and overturned onto the driver’s side.
Despite lifesaving efforts by first responders, a juvenile backseat passenger was pronounced deceased by the Henry County Coroner. It was determined that the backseat passenger was not wearing a seatbelt during the crash.
Both the driver and another female front-seat passenger were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Trooper JT Burns was assisted by Trooper Avery Weisbrodt, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, Sheriff John Sproles, Sergeant Blake Thrasher (HCSD), Deputy Corey Walker (HCSD), Deputy Christopher Hafley (HCSD), and Reserve Deputy Evan Sproles (HCSD), New Castle EMS, Shirley Volunteer Fire Department, IU Health LifeLine, and Davis Towing.
