Oolitic teen killed in Saturday morning car crash on Bartlettsville Road

The Times-Mail
·2 min read

A 15-year-old Oolitic boy was killed when the car he was riding in crashed on Bartlettsville Road early Saturday morning.

Reginald Ray was the front seat passenger in a 2004 SAAB being driven by a 15-year-old with a learner's permit when the vehicle veered off the road and struck a tree head-on. Ray was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 911 call came in at 3:36 a.m., according to a press release from the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office. The crash occurred about 3,100 feet north of Hearth Road in the 3600 block of Bartlettsville Road.

The male driver was airlifted to Riley Hospital for treatment of severe head and internal injuries. A 17-year-old male who was in the backseat was transported to IU Health in Bedford for treatment of his injuries.

Preliminary investigations found the vehicle entered a curve, at what appeared to be an unsafe speed, and the driver lost control. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the roadway and struck a tree head-on.

The rear passenger was able to exit the vehicle and walk to a nearby residence for help.

The driver has a valid Indiana learner’s permit, but is believed to have been violating conditions of the permit, police said. Unsafe speed and alcoholic beverage consumption are preliminarily believed to also have been factors. A search warrant was obtained for a blood draw on the driver. Those toxicology results are pending. The investigation is ongoing.

An Indiana State Crash reconstructionist responded to the scene and is assisting. The crash is being investigated by Officer Andrew Tillett. Officers Brenten Trueblood, Shaun Cabral, and Oolitic Marshal James Harrington also assisted. Agencies responding and/or assisting in the investigation include Pleasant Run Volunteer Fire Department, Bedford Fire Department, IU Health Lifeline Ambulances and Helicopter, Lawrence County Coroner’s Office, and Mikel’s Towing Service.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: 15 year old Oolitic boy killed in Saturday morning car crash