Authorities have released the identities of the two people who were killed in a three-vehicle crash Monday on U.S. 231 at County Road 600S.
Masey Ward, 26, of Brazil, has been identified as the driver of the Kia K5 involved in the collision. Ward and her front-seat passenger, Rogelio Diaz Gomez, 38, of Greencastle, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
A 41-year-old man who was riding in the back seat of Ward’s vehicle was extricated from the wreckage and airlifted by LifeLine helicopter to an Indianapolis-area hospital with serious injuries. His current condition has not been released.
The driver of the Buick Enclave, 73-year-old Sandra Hutson of Crawfordsville, also suffered injuries in the crash. Several passengers in the Enclave sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and were transported by ambulance to Franciscan Health Crawfordsville for treatment.
The driver of the third vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, has been identified as Richard L. Neal, 39, of New Market. Neal was taken to a local hospital following the crash and, once medically cleared, was booked into the Montgomery County Jail. He faces two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, as well as one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury. Additional charges are under review by the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office. Neal remains held without bond.
“This is a senseless, completely avoidable criminal act in which many lives have been affected,” Montgomery County Sheriff Ryan Needham said. “There is absolutely no reason this incident should have happened. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families impacted by this tragic crash.”
The accident was reported at 3:14 p.m. Monday. According to investigators, Neal was driving east on C.R. 600S when he entered the westbound lane, passing several stopped eastbound vehicles. He then drove through the intersection and into the travel lanes of U.S. 231, where his truck collided with a southbound 2021 Kia K5.
The impact pushed the Kia into the northbound lane, where it was struck by a 2024 Buick Enclave carrying six occupants.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Capt. Jake Watson, Detective Jared Kirby, or Deputy Caleb Berry at 765-362-3740.
Assisting at the scene were the Crawfordsville Police Department, Indiana State Police, Crawfordsville Fire Department, New Market Fire Department, Ladoga Fire Department, Montgomery County Coroner, Froedge’s Wrecker, and Wilson’s Towing.