WASHINGTON — A late-night off-road vehicle crash in Daviess County has left a passenger dead and the driver behind bars on a felony driving under the influence charge.
The fatal accident occurred on Thursday night, June 18, 2026. At approximately 10:37 p.m., Daviess County Central Dispatch received an emergency call reporting a side-by-side utility task vehicle (UTV) rollover on County Road 450 South, just west of County Road 50 West. The caller indicated that one person was pinned beneath the wreckage.
According to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, an initial investigation revealed that Miranda Knepp, 31, of Washington, Indiana, was driving a 2016 Polaris westbound on County Road 450 South. Israel Waggoner, 28, also of Washington, was riding in the front passenger seat.
Knepp told investigators at the scene that she swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, which caused her to lose control of the UTV. The side-by-side overturned onto its passenger side, slid for several yards along the asphalt, and finally came to rest off the south side of the roadway.
Emergency personnel confirmed that neither occupant was wearing a seat belt at the time of the rollover. Waggoner suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Authorities stated that his family has been properly notified.
Following the initial crash investigation, deputies suspected alcohol impairment. Knepp was administered a chemical test, which yielded a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .12%, well above Indiana’s legal driving limit of .08%.
Knepp was arrested and transported to the Daviess County Security Center. She is currently being held on a preliminary charge of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (OVWI) Causing Death, which is classified as a Level 4 felony in Indiana and carries a potential sentence of two to 12 years in prison.
The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office is leading the ongoing traffic fatality investigation. A massive multi-agency response assisted deputies at the scene, including officers from the Washington Police Department, the Indiana State Police, Indiana Conservation Officers (DNR), the Veale Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Daviess County Ambulance Service, the Daviess County Coroner’s Office, and Tri County Wrecker Service.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
