Both drivers involved in an August crash south of Seymour that led to the death of a Greenfield woman have been arrested, police report.
Austin Cooper, 22, who was a resident of Austin at the time of the crash but now lives in Morganfield, Kentucky, was charged with causing death while operating a motor vehicle with a controlled substance, a Level 4 felony, and reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony.
Jacob Kelly, 31, of Indianapolis was charged with reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony.
The investigation by the Indiana State Police Versailles Post crash reconstruction team indicates that on Aug. 18, 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 his passenger, Ashlea Albertson, 24, 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.
On Monday, Kelly was arrested without incident in Indianapolis. On Tuesday, Cooper turned himself in at the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown.
Both will soon have initial appearances in Jackson Circuit Court in Brownstown.