Results Of Investigation Into Fatal Buggy Crash Released

parke-county-sheriff-patch

PARKE COUNTY, Ind – Parke County Deputies have concluded their investigation into a fatal crash involving an Amish buggy back on November 2nd.

Police say that as part of standard procedure in any fatal or serious bodily injury crash, a chemical test was conducted on the driver, 66-year-old Steven Miller Ealy.

Lab results were returned earlier this week and showed no drugs or alcohol in the blood of the driver at the time of the crash.

The investigation revealed that the buggy carrying a family of four were west bound US 36 East of the Raccoon Lake Bridge and were struck from behind by a Ford van driven by Ealy, who is from Danville Indiana.

Police say that 24-year-old Tina Detweiler and her son 2-year-old Kenneth Detweiler were killed.

Tina’s husband Abram Detweiler and their other child 5-month-old Kathryn were flown from the scene to hospitals in Indianapolis.

There is no evidence to suggest that Ealy was operating in a reckless manner and no impairment or other negligence were factors in the crash.

Officers say that recent chip and seal on the road surface in that area may have been a factor in the crash in that the black buggy blended in with the black pavement from a distance.

The completed case report and all other documents have been forwarded to the Parke County Prosecutor for review.

Ealy received a Citation for Failure to Yield the Right of Way Resulting in a Crash.