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On Wed., Aug. 6, 2025, at approximately 12:13 a.m., Howard County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the area of State Road 22 and County Road 700 West for a report of a two-vehicle crash, with one vehicle reported to be on fire and an occupant trapped inside.
Deputies arrived to find a white Jeep Wrangler fully engulfed in flames and a GMC Terrain stopped nearby. Fire personnel quickly worked to extinguish the blaze. Despite rescue attempts by passing motorists and the driver of the Terrain prior to emergency responders’ arrival, the lone occupant of the Jeep was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the GMC Terrain was evaluated at the scene and voluntarily submitted to a certified chemical test for intoxication. Preliminary testing showed no presence of alcohol. Blood samples were sent to the Indiana State Department of Toxicology for further analysis, as required under Indiana law in any motor vehicle accident resulting in death.
Preliminary investigation by the sheriff’s accident reconstruction officers indicates the Jeep was traveling westbound when it struck the rear passenger side of the Terrain, left the roadway, entered a ditch, and collided head-on with a tree.
The Howard County Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit documented the scene, creating both a two-dimensional orthomosaic map and a three-dimensional point cloud to aid in the investigation.
An autopsy was performed Aug. 7 at the Howard County Coroner’s Office. Positive identification, along with the cause and manner of death, remain pending autopsy and toxicology results.
The crash remains under investigation by Sgt. Christopher Cramer (#34-74). Anyone with information is encouraged to contact him at 765-614-3474, through the Sheriff’s Office mobile app, or at www.sheriff.howardcountyin.gov.
The Howard County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Howard County Coroner’s Office, Howard County Emergency Management Agency, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital & Burlington Fire Department.
KPD running sobriety patrols
As summer winds down, the Kokomo Police Department is partnering with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) to prevent impaired driving and save lives. From August 16 through August 30, officers will increase patrols and conduct sobriety checkpoints as part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over national enforcement campaign, led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Our top priority is keeping our roads and our community safe,” said Chief Doug Stout. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it kills. Let’s make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this dangerous behavior.”
In 2024, nearly 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in Indiana involved alcohol, while more than 35 percent of all traffic fatalities involved drug impairment, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
“If you are impaired, whether from alcohol, drugs, or even medication, you should not be behind the wheel,” said Douglas Huntsinger, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “As we head into the final stretch of summer, we’re urging Hoosiers to make the responsible choice and plan ahead for a safe, sober ride.”
Drivers are encouraged to make transportation plans before consuming alcohol. Impaired judgment can lead to dangerous and even deadly decisions. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.
If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive. Take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If you see a suspected drunk driver on the road, safely pull over and contact local law enforcement.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.