LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ice on the roadway is being blamed for the deaths of two motorists this morning (12/26) in the 9900 block of US 231 S.

The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a single vehicle personal injury crash in the 9900 block US HWY 231 S. Preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle was traveling north on US 231 when the driver lost control of the vehicle due to ice on the roadway. The vehicle, a 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, left the east side of the roadway, slid through the ditch and struck a tree on the driver’s side of the vehicle before coming to rest.

Emergency personnel arrived to find three occupants entrapped in the vehicle. The driver, Billy E. Johnson (49), and front passenger, Beth A. Johnson (50), were fatally injured at the scene. The rear passenger, Bradley W. Johnson (20), was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Home Hospital. Bradley W. Johnson was admitted to Home Hospital in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. The front occupant airbags did deploy however none of the occupants were believed to be wearing seatbelts. Responding personnel reported ice covered roadways in the area at the time of the crash. Alcohol and or illegal drugs are not believed to be a factor in this crash.

Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstructionists were dispatched to assist with the investigation. The Randolph Fire Department and Tippecanoe Ambulance Service also assisted with the investigation. The crash is still under investigation at this time.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to a single vehicle personal injury crash in the 700 block E 900 N, shortly after 10:00pm on Monday, September 29. The crash killed a West Lafayette man and injured three others when the vehicle they were riding in left the roadway and flipped.

Bradley A Spencer, age 20, of 7511 North 75 East, West Lafayette was killed when he was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Three others in the car sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

Injured were 18 year old, Billy R. Burrow of Lafayette; 18 year old James D. Seamans of Battle Ground; and a 16 year old minor.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle was traveling east on 900 N and left the roadway for an unknown reason. The vehicle lost control and struck a drainage tile causing the vehicle to roll. The inverted vehicle came to rest in the 700 block E 900 N.

Emergency personnel arrived to find four occupants from the vehicle. Two of the occupants were transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Medical Center and one occupant was transported by ambulance to Home Hospital. A fourth occupant had been ejected from the vehicle during the crash and received fatal injuries at the scene.

None of the occupants were believed to be wearing seatbelts. Alcohol and or illegal drugs have not been ruled out at this time.

The Fatal Alcohol Crash Team was dispatched to assist with the investigation. The Battle Ground Fire Department, Tippecanoe Ambulance Service and Indiana State Police also assisted with the investigation. The crash is still under investigation at this time.