Smith
A man who pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in connection with a crash that left a Seymour woman dead in late September 2020 received a four-year prison sentence Thursday.
Loren Alann Smith, 27, of Seymour received that sentence from Jackson Circuit Court Judge Richard W. Poynter at the end of a hearing Thursday afternoon.
On Oct. 29, Smith pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in connection with the death of Brianne Nicole Fluhr.
The 36-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on U.S. 31 just north of the city on Sept. 24 by Jackson County Deputy Coroner Roger Wheeler after Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Adam Nicholson and Jackson County Emergency Medical Services personnel were unable to locate a pulse on her.
According to the probable cause affidavit signed by Nicholson, the airbag control module from Smith’s car showed he was driving 91 mph just before impact. The speed limit in the area is 55 mph.
Smith told investigators he didn’t know how fast he was going but admitted to being in a hurry to get home, according to court records.
Smith voluntarily submitted to a blood draw for toxicology, which showed an alcohol level of 0.033%, according to the probable cause affidavit. The legal limit for a person over the age of 21 is 0.08%. The discretionary limit for police is 0.04%. He tested negative for drugs.
The wreck in the 5700 block of North U.S. 31 was reported to the sheriff’s department at 1:50 p.m. Sept. 24. The caller advised there were two vehicles involved in the crash, and one vehicle had rolled several times, Nicholson reported at the time.
Nicholson responded to the scene and found two vehicles off of the east side of U.S. 31 near the intersection of County Avenue. One vehicle was a black 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Smith, while the other was a blue 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, driven by Fluhr.
Fluhr’s vehicle rolled several times during the wreck and remained inverted, Nicholson said. He and Jackson County EMS personnel attended to Fluhr, while other EMS workers attended to Smith.
At the time of the crash, Smith was driving north on U.S. 31, and Fluhr was attempting to drive across U.S. 31 onto County Road 560N and pulled out in front of Smith, according to court records.
Smith was treated by EMS at the scene and refused any further medical attention at that time, Nicholson said. That evening, Smith went to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour and was evaluated by medical staff.
Smith was then transported by Jackson County EMS to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for a back injury. He was released from Methodist the next morning.
Poynter also granted Smith 22 days of credit for time served.