Madison County car crash kills one man

Nov 25, 2023

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PENDLETON, Ind. — One man has died after a car crash in Madison County Saturday afternoon.

According to the Madison County Sheriff's Office, the crash occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on Aug. 5 in the 4400 block of South 50 West, which is a few miles northeast of Pendleton.

The victim was driving a 1998 Buick when he lost control of his vehicle. Preliminary information from police says that the car left the east side of the road, re-entered, and then left the road again on the west side.

The car struck a tree and then crashed into a nearby house. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Homeowner Rita Wells is in a hotel because of the extensive damage.

"This is fake because when you hear about these things, you don't think that that's my house," Chelsea Smith said.

Chelsea and Sean Smith received a picture from his mother of the Buick sideways inside the home where he grew up.

"I thought it was just a picture of a treadmill she was trying to move into the house and was like, 'wait? Is that actually a vehicle in her living room?'" said Sean Smith.

Wells' desk was destroyed.

"That's where she sits, that's where her workspace is. She just happened to go to the bathroom at that particular moment," Chelsea said.

That's what they believe saved her.

A neighbor came to the rescue after hearing a loud boom on South 50 West on Saturday afternoon.

"So, I don't know if he was driving too fast down the road or if someone was following him or chasing him, wrong place, wrong time, hit the tree and into the house," said Chelsea.

With her home now a crash scene and unlivable, the storm door landing on top of Wells' couch, she's now staying in a hotel as they wait for insurance reps to arrive.

"We'll just have to wait and see, but how long do you wait and see before you can live in your house again?" Chelsea said.

Her family is still thankful.

"That thought just keeps running through my head, like what could have happened. if she just didn't take that moment to go to the restroom. So, I'm just grateful," said Sean.

13News is working to learn the name of the driver. The cause is still under investigation.

This story will be updated as information becomes available.