Single-Vehicle Crash Claims Life Of Howe Resident

(SHIPSHEWANA) – Monday, at approximately 6: 50 p.m., the Indiana State Police responded to a vehicle crash at 4150 W State Road 120 in LaGrange County that claimed the life of a Howe resident.

Upon arrival, Troopers located a single passenger vehicle rolled onto its passenger side with the sole occupant driver entrapped and unresponsive. The driver, later identified as 53-year-old Trent T. McDowell of Howe, was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaGrange County Coroner as a result of injuries sustained from the crash.

Trooper Jacob Bill’s preliminary investigation of the crash scene revealed that McDowell’s 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe had been traveling eastbound on SR120 prior to the crash. For an unknown reason, McDowell’s vehicle ran off the edge of the road. McDowell overcorrected his steering and lost control, running off the road a second time. The Tahoe impacted a tree and rolled over prior to coming to rest.

Although the airbag safety system was deployed, a further post-crash investigation will reveal whether the driver safety belt was properly worn. It was not evident during the preliminary investigation whether or not alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor.

The crash remains under investigation by Trooper Bill and an ISP crash reconstruction specialist. There is no further information to be released at this time.

Trooper Bill was assisted at the scene by multiple Trooper’s from both the Toll Road Post and the Fort Wayne Post, the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department, the LaGrange County Coroner, and Grate’s Wrecker Service.