Pike County – Last night at approximately 9:43, Trooper Hunter Manning witnessed a head-on crash on I-69 near the 49 mile-marker involving three vehicles.
At approximately 9:30 p.m., Trooper Manning was parked on I-69 southbound at the 42 mile-marker when a motorist stopped to inform him a motorist driving a Chevrolet Tahoe was driving northbound in the southbound lanes. Trooper Manning immediately proceeded northbound and located the vehicle traveling north in the southbound lanes near the 48.5 mile-marker. Trooper Manning drove into the median in an attempt to get the wrong way driver’s attention. The driver of the Tahoe then entered the median and made a U-turn into the northbound lanes and proceeded south. Trooper Manning then entered into the southbound lanes still attempting to get the driver’s attention. Moments later the vehicle struck two vehicles in the northbound lanes near the 49 mile-marker.
Preliminary investigation revealed Brian Paquette, 48, of Newport News, VA, was driving his 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe southbound in the northbound passing lane. Stephanie Molinet, 22, of Elberfeld, was driving her 2014 Ford Focus northbound in the passing lane when the two vehicles struck head-on. The impact caused Paquette’s vehicle to rotate clockwise and into the path of a 2011 GMC Terrain that was traveling northbound in the driving lane. The driver of the GMC was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger was taken to Deaconess Hospital where she is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Their identities will be released later today after their family have been notified. Autumn Kapperman, 21, of Boonville, was a front seat passenger in Molinet’s vehicle. Kapperman was pronounced dead at the scene. She was also five-months pregnant. Molinet was taken to Deaconess Hospital where she died early Saturday morning from her injuries. Paquette was also transported to Deaconess Hospital where he is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries. All three vehicles were totaled. The northbound lanes of I-69 were closed for approximately three-hours while troopers investigated the crash.
This is an on-going investigation.
Deceased:
• 44-year-old male (Waiting for Family to be Notified)
• Stephanie Molinet, 22, Elberfeld, IN
• Autumn Kapperman, 21, Boonville, IN
Injured:
• 46-year-old female (Waiting for Family to be Notified)
• Brian L. Paquette, 48, Newport News, VA
