Orange County Woman Arrested on Reckless Homicide Charge

(WASHINGTON CO.) – Indiana State Police arrested an Orange County woman on a charge of reckless homicide.

Around 6:07 Friday evening, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call reporting a male lying in a ditch along US 150 near Honey Creek Road near the Washington/Orange County line. 

After officers arrived on-scene, they located a deceased male and received information that a car may have intentionally struck the victim. 

Officers then requested assistance from Indiana State Police (ISP) detectives and crime scene technicians.  Detective Travis Baker responded, assisted by Detective Sergeant Dave Mitchell.

As a result of the preliminary investigation, ISP detectives believe that a silver, 2009 Kia Spectra, driven by 39-year-old Sandra Adelle Huff, of Paoli, was traveling eastbound on US 150 approaching Honey Creek Road.  

Huff’s husband, 45-year-old Roger Hardin, was sitting in the front passenger seat. Two adult friends occupied the rear passenger seat. 

While driving, a domestic argument began between Huff and Hardin. 

Detectives believe the argument became physical, causing Huff to drive the vehicle off the north side of the roadway and into a ditch.  Hardin and one of the two rear-seat passengers exited the car. 

After Hardin was out of the vehicle, Huff attempted to pull back out onto the highway, striking and killing Hardin. 

Huff then left the scene, leaving both Hardin and the passenger at the crash scene.

ISP troopers and detectives located Huff approximately three hours after the crash in Washington County. Huff is currently charged with reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony, and was incarcerated at the Washington County Jail without further incident. 

This investigation is ongoing as detectives await autopsy results and will conduct additional interviews and further inspect the vehicle and crash scene. 

Indiana State Police detectives were assisted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, The Washington County Coroner’s Office, and Indiana Conservation Officers.