FR teen died in crash Sunday

A Fort Recovery teen died following a crash early Sunday in Jay County.

Natalie R. Siegrist, 16, died at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne after she was ejected from a vehicle that went off of Indiana 26 about a quarter-mile west of the state line.

The driver of the vehicle, Charles E. Smith III, 16, Salamonia, suffered injuries to his face.

Siegrist was a passenger in the 2007 GMC Sierra that Smith was driving southeast on Indiana 26 nearing the state line just after 3 a.m. Sunday, according to an incident report from Jay County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle went off the highway and Smith attempted to adjust but drove into an embankment, the report says. The GMC Sierra began turning, continuing south in a ditch and then going airborne. The vehicle went over the driveway at 8919 E. Indiana 26 before rolling several times.

Siegrist, who the report says was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident, was ejected from a vehicle. She was unconscious and reported to be in unstable condition when police arrived on scene, with emergency personnel transporting her by ambulance to IU Health Jay. She was later transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne where she died as a result of her injuries, according to police.

Siegrist’s autopsy was conducted Monday morning in Fort Wayne. Allen County coroner Jon Brandenberger declined to immediately comment on the case prior to press time, saying he had not yet spoken with the family of the deceased.

Smith was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, according to the report, and he was administered a blood test. Results are pending.

Siegrist attended Fort Recovery Local Schools. Her death was acknowledged with a moment of silence at the beginning of Sunday’s Fort Recovery Friends of the Arts Community Talent Night at Fort Site Fieldhouse and the school district addressed the crash in a Facebook post on Monday.

“Fort Recovery Local Schools would like to express their heartfelt sympathy to the Siegrist family,” the post read. “This tragic loss will undoubtedly impact many of our students, staff, and community members.”

School counselors will be available throughout the week and may be reached by contacting the district’s office, the post said. It also indicated some summer activities may be altered this week, with scheduling changes to be shared with students by their coaches or advisors.

“Please continue to come together as a community and keep the Siegrist family in your thoughts and prayers,” the post read.

Also, a Marion resident struck debris in the road after the crash involving Siegrist and Smith, resulting in damage to his vehicle.

Tyler J. Watkins, 24, was driving his 2002 Ford F350 northwest on the highway near the incident scene when his car hit the debris, causing damage to his front passenger side. 

He was preliminarily charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor. He was released on a $1,000 bond from Jay County Jail.