On Thursday, October 29, 2020, at 2:40 PM the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and the Scott Township Fire Department responded to a traffic crash with unknown injuries on SR 57 between E. Boonville New Harmony Road and Kansas Road. Upon arrival, Sheriff’s Office deputies found that two vehicles had collided.
The crash involved a blue 2020 Ford Explorer driven by a 62-year-old female and a white 2007 Jeep Compass driven by a juvenile female. The juvenile was found deceased at the scene. A preliminary investigation indicated the white Jeep was traveling south on SR 57 before crossing the centerline. The blue Ford crested a hill and encountered the white Jeep skidding sideways on wet asphalt while in the northbound lane. The passenger side of the white Jeep then collided with the front of the blue Ford. The Ford came to rest in the roadway while the Jeep came to rest along a wood line next to the roadway.
The driver of the blue Ford was transported by ambulance to the hospital for treatment. Pursuant to state statute regarding crashes involving serious bodily injury or death, the driver consented to a post-crash blood draw for toxicology screening. The crash will remain under investigation pending toxicology results. Based on the preliminary investigation, deputies do not believe that drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision.
The victim from the State Road 57 Collision has been identified as Lillian Gardner, age 16, of Evansville. Currently, the autopsy has been rescheduled for Friday at 16:30 Hrs.  The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office can provide updates when they become available.
