Thursday afternoon, just after 2:30 p.m., Indiana State Police responded to a single-vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 65 just south of the 168 mile marker.
A preliminary investigation by Trooper Turchi revealed that a 2006 Ford Freestyle driven by Melege Joseph, 49, from Indianapolis, IN, was traveling southbound on I-65 in the left lane. The left lane ended as three lanes merged into two lanes, and the Ford continued onto the left shoulder. The Ford then lost control, crossed both southbound lanes, went off the west side of the road, and rolled over.
A passenger in the Ford was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash by the Tippecanoe County Coroner. The name of the deceased will be released at a later date by the Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office.
Joseph and two other passengers were transported to a Lafayette area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A further investigation revealed that Joseph’s driver’s license was suspended. After being released from the hospital, Joseph was taken into custody and transported to Tippecanoe County Jail.
Arrested and preliminary charges:
Melege Joseph, 49, Indianapolis, IN
- Driving While Suspended Resulting in Death – Level 5 Felony
Trooper Turchi was assisted on scene by troopers from the Lafayette Post, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office, Sheffield Township Fire Department, Tippecanoe County EMS, and Joey’s Towing.
*All charges listed are merely accusations at this point. All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
