SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind – The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation into a fatal crash that happened in Merom just after 4:10am Sunday.
A homeowner called 911 reporting a vehicle on fire, close to his residence.
After the fire was out it was learned that the driver did not escape the vehicle.
Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom said that investigators spent eight hours at the scene and say that their investigation shows that the pick-up truck driven by 20 year old Mitchell Ridge of Sullivan was traveling northbound on 3rd Street, when he failed to negotiate a 90 degree right hand turn. The vehicle then left the roadway narrowly missing two trees and a cemetery stone and then traveled slowly, in a zig-zag pattern, before coming to rest in a back yard, approximately 50 feet from the reporting homeowner’s back door.
Police aren’t sure why but say that the truck then burst into flames.
The Indiana State Police and the State Fire Marshalls office are helping with the investigation.
Officers say that they found no early indications of foul play at the scene; however the vehicle is still being secured under the authority of the Indiana State Police.
An autopsy was performed at Terre Haute Regional Hospital by Dr. Roland Kohr and no signs of foul play were found, however there were indications of smoke inhalation.
The preliminary autopsy findings are that the death was consistent with an accident.
Toxicology reports are pending from the state laboratory.
Police are continuing their investigation and are trying to piece together the evenings happenings, and await further test results.
If anyone had seen or spoke with Mitchell late Saturday evening, they are asked to contact Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Detective Ron Elliott at 812-268-4308.
Mitchell was survived by his parents, and a brother and sister, and several family members and friends.
He was employed with the Terre Haute Local 841 Operating Engineers.
Funeral services will be at 12:00 PM Thursday March 29, 2018 at Brust Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 12 noon on Thursday.