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Man Charged In Fatal Accident Asks For Bond Reduction

Last updated on Monday, October 20, 2014

(FERDINAND) - The attorney for the Huntingburg man involved in the fatality accident in Ferdinand on September 24 requested the court lower the $10,000 bond for his client.

24-year-old Brandon W. Chamberlain is charged with two Level 4 felony counts of operating while intoxicated causing death -- one count for the OWI with a prior conviction and one count for OWI with a blood alcohol content higher than 0.15% -- and a Level 6 felony count of operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury.

The prosecuting attorney's office has filed for Chamberlain's bond to be increased from the $10,000 it was set when he was arrested. Chamberlain has a previous conviction for drunk driving.

The bond reduction hearing will be held in the Dubois County Circuit Court today, at 9:30 a.m.

According to an Indiana State Police report, on Sept. 24, Chamberlain was traveling north on State Road 162, just north of Ferdinand win a 2012 Ford F-350 Super Crew pickup truck when he traveled left of center, striking a southbound 2001 Buick Century driven by 60-year-old Donna Evans, of Cannelton. The impact pushed Evans's vehicle backwards and off of the east side of the roadway. Evans died as a result of her injuries.

As Chamberlain's Ford continued north, Chamberlain could not maintain control of the vehicle. Due to the violent dynamics of the crash, an ATV in the bed of Chamberlain's truck became airborne and bounced through the windshield and roofline of a red 2013 Mazda CX-5 SUV, driven by 58-year-old Donna Trafton of Ferdinand.

Impact by the ATV shattered the windshield and peeled the roof back off of the vehicle before coming dislodged and landing in a driveway on the west side of the roadway. Trafton's SUV came to rest on a hillside, also on the west side of the roadway. Trafton suffered two broken vertebrae in her neck.

Through an investigation and crash reconstruction by ISP Sgt. Philip Hensley, it was determined that Chamberlain was not only traveling northbound in the southbound lane, but was traveling 74 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone at the moment of the collision.

Police also determined that Chamberlain was operating under the influence of alcoholic beverages.

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