Speed, Alcohol Believed To Be Factors In Fatal Accident In Ripley Co.

Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 9:28 AM

The single vehicle crash happened Tuesday on Rosfeld Road.

(Ripley County, Ind.) - One person is dead and another was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash in Ripley County.

Ripley County Sheriff's deputies responded to the crash on Rosfeld Road near Saint Mary's Road on Tuesday at an undisclosed time.

Deputies say the vehicle was westbound on Rosfeld Road when the driver, identified as Dustin E. Race, 38, of Osgood, lost control of the vehicle, traveled off the roadway approximately 300 feet and crashed in a bridge abutment head-on.

Race and his passenger, Felisha Y. Ward, 24, of Patriot, had to be extricated from the vehicle. Both were flown to UC Medical Center. Ward passed away at the hospital on Wednesday. The extent of Race's injuries are unknown.

Deputies believe alcohol and speed contributed to the accident.

During the preliminary investigation, a witness told deputies she was inside her residence when she heard the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, just before hearing the crash.

Deputies also spoke with a driver who observed Race's vehicle coming at him at a high rate of speed. The driver drove his vehicle off the roadway and over an embankment to avoid a possible head on collision.

The investigation is ongoing.