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Indiana State Police-Bloomington District 33-Bloomington, IN
Wednesday May 17th, 2017 :: 03:55 p.m. EDT

Community

UPDATE – Arrest made following 2016 Fatal Crash on Bloomington’s Southside

Bloomington – At 10:30 this morning Ryan M. Kimbrel, 32 of Mitchell, was arrested on 2 counts of Level 4 Felony OWI and 1 count of Level 5 Felony OWI, resulting in the death of James Sprague of Bloomington. Kimbrel’s arrest stems from a crash that occurred on May 2, 2016 at Tapp Road and State Road 37. 

The crash investigation revealed that Kimbrel had been northbound on SR 37, failed to stop at the red light, and struck James Sprague’s vehicle on the driver’s side door.  Kimbrel had sideswiped another vehicle during the crash, however that driver was not critically injured. 

Toxicology results show Kimbrel had been operating a motor vehicle with controlled substances in his blood at the time of the crash.

Kimbrel was transported to, processed and lodged at the Monroe County Jail by Trooper Julie Deel.

NEWS RELEASE FROM LAST YEAR… (05/02/2016)

Indiana State Police Investigating Fatal Crash on Bloomington’s Southside

Monroe County – Just before 9 o’clock this morning Troopers from the Indiana State Police at the Bloomington District responded to a multi-car crash that resulted in a Bloomington man losing his life.

The preliminary investigation revealed a 2005 Hyundai sedan driven by Ryan M. Kimbrel, 31 of Mitchell was travelling northbound on State Road 37 approaching Tapp Road. For unknown reasons, Kimbrel drove the Hyundai from the left lane into the right lane where vehicles were stopped for a red light. Upon drifting over, the Hyundai sideswiped a stopped 2014 Toyota sedan. After striking that Toyota, the Hyundai continued northbound into the intersection against a red traffic light, colliding with another Toyota (2013) sedan that was travelling through the intersection to turn south onto SR37.

The investigation found the driver of the 2013 (2nd) Toyota, James F. Sprague Jr., 69 of Bloomington, was travelling westbound through the intersection from Tapp Road to State Road 37, under a green left arrow.

The events of the crash resulted in the death of Mr. Sprague.

The driver of the 2014 (1st) Toyota, Rachel L. Whitson, 31 of Bedford was not injured.

Both Sprague and Kimbrel were transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital.

The investigation is ongoing. Agencies that assisted in the investigation were the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, Bloomington Police Department and the Perry/Clear Creek Township Fire Department.

All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law

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DURNIL

PHOTO – State Road 37 at Tapp Road (Facing South)
 

Address/Location
Indiana State Police-Bloomington District 33-Bloomington, IN
1500 North Packing House Road
Bloomington, IN 47404

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 812-332-4411

Curt Durnil
Public Information Office
[email protected]
812-332-4411

IN-37 & W Tapp Rd
Bloomington, IN 47403

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