(Adams County, IN)-The Indiana State Police is investigating a single vehicle crash that occurred earlier today that fatally injured a woman from Adams County and hospitalized four others.
Preliminary investigation conducted by Master Trooper Kurt Jack indicated that at approximately 4:00 p.m., a 1998 Ford Expedition driven by 47 year old Tyler Cowans of Decatur was traveling southbound on US 27, south of County Road 850 N.
The left rear wheel assembly purportedly came off of the vehicle causing Cowans to lose control. The Expedition, which was originally traveling in the driving lane, traveled off the roadway and into the west ditch where it began to roll. Cowan, who was not seatbelted, suffered head and internal injuries and was transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. His condition is not known at this time. Cowan's front seat passenger, who was not seatbelted was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene by the Adams County Coroner.
Three other passengers in the vehicle were also injured and transported to Lutheran Hospital: Mariah Cowans, 19 of Decatur with internal injuries; Rick Stults, 18 of Geneva with internal injuries and Jaiden Cowans, 1 with internal injuries. The conditions of these three are not known.
An autopsy has been scheduled and upon its completion, the name of the deceased will be released by the Adams County Coroner. Jack was assisted at the scene by the Adams County Sheriff Department, the Adams County Coroner, the Decatur Police and Decatur Fire Departments. This crash remains under investigation.
