Victims of Monday Crash Identified

The Monday afternoon crash just north of Southmont High School left two people dead and eight others injured.

The two who were killed are 26-year-old Macey Ward from Brazil and 38-year-old Rogelio Diaz Gomez of Greencastle. Ward was driving the 2021 Kia K5 that police say Richard L. Neal, a 39-year-old from New Market, struck after passing several vehicles stopped at the intersection of 600 South and U.S. 231. The collision pushed the Kia into the northbound lane where it was struck by a 2024 Buick Enclave that was headed north.

“This is a senseless, completely avoidable criminal act in which many lives have been affected,” Montgomery County Sheriff Ryan Needham said. “There is absolutely no reason this incident should have happened. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families affected by this tragic crash.”

Police identified the driver of the Enclave as 73-year-old Sandra Hutson from Crawfordsville. Several passengers were seriously injured but none are thought to be life threatening.

Neal was also hospitalized. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said he will be charged with two counts of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death and Operating While Intoxicated While Causing Serious Bodily Injury. Additional charges are expected and Needham said reports have been sent to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

The crash remains under investigation and the Sheriff’s Office asks if anyone has any information to please contact Capt. Jake Watson, Det. Jared Kirby or Deputy Caleb Berry at (765) 362-3740.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Crawfordsville Police Department, Indiana State Police, Crawfordsville Fire Department, New Market Fire Department, Ladoga Fire Department, Montgomery County Coroner, Froedge’s Wrecker and Wilson’s Towing.