Masey Ward,Rogelio Diaz Gomez Obituary, Death; – The identities of the two individuals who lost their lives on Monday in a three-vehicle accident on U.S. 231 at County Road 600S have been disclosed.
Masey Ward, 26, from Brazil, has been confirmed as the driver of the Kia K5. Both she and her front seat passenger, Rogelio Diaz Gomez, 38, from Greencastle, were declared dead at the crash site.
A 41-year-old male, who was a back seat passenger in Ward’s vehicle, was rescued from the wreckage and airlifted by LifeLine helicopter to a hospital in the Indianapolis area with serious injuries. His current condition remains unknown.
The driver of the Buick Enclave has been identified as Sandra Hutson, 73, from Crawfordsville. Several passengers in the Enclave sustained serious injuries, but all are believed to be non-life-threatening. They were taken by ambulance to Franciscan Health Crawfordsville.
Richard L. Neal, 39, from New Market, the driver of the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, was also transported to the local hospital. After being medically cleared, he was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resulting in death, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, causing serious bodily injury. Further charges are anticipated, and reports have been forwarded to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office for evaluation. He is currently held without bond.
“This is a senseless, entirely preventable, criminal act that has impacted many lives,” stated Montgomery County Sheriff Ryan Needham. “There is absolutely no justification for this incident occurring. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected by this tragic accident.”
The crash was reported at 3:14 p.m. on Monday. Investigators indicated that Neal was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado east on C.R. 600S when he crossed into the westbound lane, overtaking several stopped eastbound vehicles. Neal proceeded through the intersection and into the travel lanes of U.S. 231, where his vehicle collided with a southbound 2021 Kia K5.
The force of the collision propelled the Kia into the northbound lane, where it collided with another vehicle.
