(Correction) Tipton County Woman Dies in Crash
Rural Tipton – Last night at approximately 10:49 p.m., officers from the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department responded to a single vehicle crash at 3980 South Tipton County Road 500 West, which killed a Tipton County woman. The Tipton County Sheriff’s Department requested a crash reconstructionist from the Indiana State Police to investigate the crash.
The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper Wendell Beachy revealed that Phillip Epperly, 49, rural Tipton, was driving a 2004 Ford Explorer eastbound on County Road 400 South, approaching a T-intersection at County Road 500 West. The Explorer did not stop for a stop sign at County Road 500 West and continued through the T-intersection. The Explorer struck a fence post in a driveway at 3980 South County Road 500 West. The Explorer then veered off the driveway and hit a tree and a utility pole. The crash impact severed the utility pole.
Karla M. Wolford, 38, rural Tipton, a passenger in the Explorer, was pronounced dead at the crash scene. Epperly suffered minor injuries. Both occupants were wearing seat belts but the crash impact was too severe for the restraint to save Wolford.
When Tipton County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 911 call of the crash, they purportedly found Epperly inside the residence at 3980 South County Road 500 West. He was drinking a beer. Wolford was on the living room floor, deceased. The pair was allegedly in a dating relationship and resided at the home together. Evidence indicates Epperly removed Wolford’s body from the crashed vehicle and drug her into the home, prior to calling 911. Epperly was arrested by officers from the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department on a felony charge of criminal recklessness.
The crash investigation is ongoing with toxicology test pending.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A photo of the crashed vehicle is attached.
Address/Location
Indiana State Police-Peru District 16-Peru, IN
1451 North Eel River Cemetery Road
Peru, IN 46970
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 765-473-6666