Crash Kills 2, Injures 8

The community is still reeling after a three car collision south of Crawfordsville left two people dead, eight hospitalized and one facing felony charges.

A little after 3 Monday afternoon, police say Richard L. Neal, a 39-year-old from New Market, passed several vehicles stopped at the intersection of 600 South and U.S. 231. Police said Neal was traveling east on the county road and passed several cars by going into the westbound lane. They said when he went onto 231, his 2003 Chevy Silverado collided with a 2021 Kia K5 that had been going south. The collision pushed the Kia into the northbound lane where it was struck by a 2024 Buick Enclave that was headed north.

The Kia’s driver, a 26-year-old female, along with a 38-year-old male front seat passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene.  A 41-year-old male passenger in the back had to be extricated from the vehicle and was flown to an Indianapolis area hospital by LineLine.

Six passengers in the Enclave were all taken to Franciscan Health in Crawfordsville with non-life-threatening injuries.

Neal was also taken to Franciscan. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said he will be charged with two counts of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death and two counts of Criminal Recklessness, Level 4 Felonies. 

Police closed the intersection for a period of time.

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.