One of two drivers involved in an August 2023 crash south of Seymour that led to the death of a Greenfield woman is scheduled to be sentenced at 2 p.m. Thursday in Jackson Circuit Court.
On June 7 of this year, Austin R. Cooper, who was 22 and a resident of Austin at the time of the crash, entered a guilty plea of causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance in the blood, a Level 4 felony.
At the time of his arrest, Cooper, who now lives in Otisco, also was charged with reckless homicide where the defendant killed another human being with a vehicle, a Level 5 felony, in connection with the death of 24-year-old Ashlea Albertson.
The jury trial of Jacob Kelly, 31, of Indianapolis, who also was charged with reckless homicide where the defendant killed another human being with a vehicle, in connection with the same incident, is set for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 3 in Jackson Circuit Court.
The investigation by the Indiana State Police Versailles Post crash reconstruction team indicates that on Aug. 18, 2023, a black 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, being driven by Cooper, was traveling northbound in the right lane of Interstate 65 near the 48 mile marker, while a white 2018 GMC Terrain, being driven by Kelly, was traveling north in the left lane.
Evidence from the scene, including video footage captured by another vehicle, indicated the two drivers began accelerating rapidly and refused to allow the other vehicle to pass, according to a news release from Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, public information officer for the Versailles Post.
Cooper’s vehicle then began to change lanes into the path of Kelly’s vehicle. Kelly lost control of his vehicle and spun, which resulted in the two vehicles colliding in the middle of the northbound lanes.
Kelly’s vehicle rolled, which resulted in Albertson being ejected from the vehicle. Cooper’s vehicle left the east side of the roadway and came to rest in a field.
Kelly and Albertson were flown from the scene to University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, for treatment. After arriving there, Albertson was pronounced deceased, and Kelly was treated for injuries and later released.
Cooper and a juvenile passenger were transported to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.
The post-crash investigation determined the vehicles were traveling next to each other when both drivers accelerated to speeds in excess of 90 mph at the time of the crash, Wheeles said.
Toxicology results were obtained on both drivers after the crash. The results of those tests indicated Cooper had THC in his system when the crash occurred, Wheeles said.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the case was presented to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for review. As a result, Cooper and Kelly were charged with the felonies.
In November of 2023, Kelly was arrested without incident in Indianapolis in November of 2023, and Cooper turned himself in at the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown during the same month.
Albertson was a driver of a TQ midget for three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart’s team.
A Level 4 felony is punishable by two to 12 years in prison with an advisory sentence of six years and a fine of not more than $10,000.