Failure to stop led to fatal crash

More information has been released regarding the fatal vehicle crash in Blackford County that resulted in a Pennville man’s death Tuesday morning.

Indiana State Police are investigating the accident after Neil A. Kegerreis, 67, was pronounced dead at the scene Tuesday.

According to a state police report released Wednesday afternoon, Redkey resident Garry L. Horner, 41, was driving a 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck west on Jay County road 200 South, which becomes Blackford County road 300 South, approaching the intersection with Indiana 167 (the county line). Horner did not stop at the stop sign and instead continued into the intersection. He drove in front of a 2016 Ford Fusion driven by 37-year-old Ashley Baxter of Celina, Ohio, causing a collision.

Horner’s truck rolled several times. Kegerreis, who was a passenger, was ejected from the truck. (Blackford County Coroner Zach Crouch pronounced him dead at the scene.)

Horner was transported to IU Health Ball Memorial in Muncie with non life-threatening injuries.

Baxter’s vehicle also rolled before coming to a stop upside down in a field just south of the intersection. She and her two teenagers, 14 and 15 years old, were transported to IU Health Jay in Portland with non life-threatening injuries.

Kegerreis was the only person involved in the crash who was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the report.

Following standard procedure with serious bodily injury or fatal vehicle accidents, Horner was given a blood draw for drug and alcohol testing. The state police report noted neither drugs or alcohol were suspected as the cause.

The Indiana State Police have an ongoing investigation into the crash. Once completed, the investigation will be turned over to the Blackford County Prosecutor’s Office to determine any criminal charges that may be filed.