KOKOMO – Wednesday night, just after 11:30 p.m., members of the Indiana State Police, Howard County Sheriff’s Office, and Kokomo Police Department responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash near the intersection of State Road 931 and Vaile Avenue in Kokomo in which a Kokomo, woman died.
A preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Todd Trottier revealed that Kokomo Police Officer Jeremiah Wilson was on duty driving his fully marked patrol vehicle northbound on State Road 931, approaching Vaile Avenue. Evidence indicates a 2010 Ford passenger vehicle, driven by Timmothy A. Bergesen, 32, from Kokomo, traveled eastbound on Vaile Avenue when it entered the northbound lanes of State Road 931 directly in front of Officer Wilson. Officer Wilson attempted to avoid the collision but was unsuccessful and struck the Ford on its passenger side.
The passenger, identified as Vicky L. Hollingsworth, 55, from Kokomo, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Howard County Coroner’s Office.
Officer Wilson suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital before being released.
During the investigation, troopers were able to develop probable cause to believe Bergesen was under the influence of suspected alcohol. Bergesen was transported to a nearby hospital for a certified test and later transferred to an Indianapolis hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The results of the certified test are pending.
Once the investigation has been completed, the full report will be turned over to the Howard County Prosecutor’s Office for review and determination of charges that may be filed.
This remains an ongoing active ISP crash investigation. No further information is available to release. Notification to the family of the deceased has been made.
Master Trooper Trottier was assisted on the scene by other troopers from the Peru Post, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction, Howard County Sheriff’s Department, Kokomo Police Department, Indiana Conservation, Howard County Coroner’s Office, Kokomo Fire Department, Howard County EMA, Community Howard EMS, and Paddacks Wrecker Service.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
