DEARBORN COUNTY – Early Tuesday morning, Troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles District investigated a two-vehicle crash in rural Dearborn County that claimed the life of a Muncie man.
The initial investigation indicated that shortly after 6:00 am this morning, a 2003 Chevrolet truck being driven by Trent J. Laudermilt, 19, Muncie, was traveling eastbound in the 8900 Block of East State Road 350 near Aurora, Indiana. Laudermilt’s vehicle struck a disabled 2008 Chevrolet truck that was parked unoccupied along the roadway.
After the collision, Laudermilt’s vehicle struck a guardrail and traveled down an embankment. During the collision, a passenger in Laudermilt’s vehicle, Jeffrey Cole, age 19, Muncie, was ejected from the vehicle. Laudermilt was transported to an area hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. Tragically, Cole sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Dearborn County Coroner’s Office.
The investigation determined that neither Laudermilt nor Cole were properly restrained at the time of the crash.
The investigation remains ongoing. Toxicology results on Laudermilt are pending.
Notification to Jeffrey Cole’s family has been made.
State Road 350 was closed for over four hours for crash investigation and cleanup.
The Indiana State Police were assisted by the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department, Aurora EMS, Hogan Volunteer Fire Department, and Dearborn County Coroner’s Office.
