Master Trooper Tim Myers preliminary investigation revealed that a black 2015 Kia Optima passenger car, driven by Izah R. Webb, 20, of Griffith, Indiana, was traveling south on County Road 27. For an unknown reason, Webb’s vehicle went left of center just south of County Road 6, crashing head on into a northbound red 2008 Kia Sportage passenger car. Due to the extensive damage to both vehicles, rescue personnel from the Ashley Fire Department were required to extricate both drivers.
After extrication, Webb was immediately flown from the scene by Samaritan helicopter to Parkview Hospital (PRMC) in Fort Wayne in critical condition. Shortly after arriving at PRMC, Webb succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The driver of the Kia Sportage, Kevin Dale Heath, 61, of Auburn, is believed to have died instantly from the severity his injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office.
Other than the two drivers, there were no other occupants involved. Both men were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, and airbags were successfully deployed in both vehicles.
Notifications have been made to immediate family members of both drivers.
This crash and the causation factors that may have contributed to the incident remain under investigation by an Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction team, and the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office. There is no further information to release as this time.
M/Trooper Myers was assisted at the scene by several troopers from the Fort Wayne Post, Parkview EMS, Ashley Fire Department, Parkview Samaritan, Waterloo Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, the DeKalb County Coroner’s office, and Riverside towing company. Also assisting were officers from the Parkview Police Department and the Parkview Chaplin’s service at PRMC.