Crash kills Shadeland town clerk

SHADELAND, Ind. (WLFI) - A four-car crash that shut down State Road 25 Thursday night in Shadeland sent one woman to the hospital with injuries. Once she got there, her condition deteriorated and she died.

The wreck happened just before 8 p.m. near the intersection of County Road 250 West.

Deputies said the crash occurred when a silver Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Lafayette woman Peggy Vanschepen, was headed west on 25 and slowed for an unknown reason. The silver passenger car was rear-ended by a white Pontiac. The collision caused a chain reaction.

The silver Grand Am, driven by Vanschepen, continued into the eastbound lanes of SR 25, where it was hit by a 1980 orange Chevy Camaro, which was pushed south and hit another car, this one a silver Toyota Highlander.   

"This is actually a state road that intersects with a county road. It's not uncommon for us to have wrecks since we are right near a gas station, so it's heavier-populated," said Deputy Jason Freeman.             

Shadeland Fire crews pulled Vanschepen out of the Grand Am and she was transported to St. Elizabeth East Hospital in Lafayette. She was initially treated for chest pains and possible broken ribs and was listed as stable.

However, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office says her condition changed to critical and she died from internal injuries sustained from the crash.

Vanschepen was Shadeland's town clerk/treasurer, our sister station WLFI reports.

The drivers of the white Pontiac and the orange Camaro were both treated for minor injuries at the scene. The driver and passenger of the Toyota were uninjured.

Accident reconstructionists were called to investigate the crash. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to have been factors in the crash but results are pending.