Coroner IDs high school students killed in Tippecanoe Co. crash
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) — The Tippecanoe County coroner had identified three teenagers involved in a deadly Wednesday morning crash. Two boys were killed and another was taken to the hospital for surgery.
The coroner said 17-year-old Dalton Kendall and 16-year-old Kyle Richardson were killed. Lt. Brian Lowe said detectives believe Kendall was the driver and Richardson was the front seat passenger. The third boy, 16-year-old Quinton Crabtree, is still in the hospital. All three were students at Harrison High School.
Lt. Brian Lowe said Crabtree is stable, but critical, at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. An online fundraiser to cover Crabtree’s medical expenses had already raised more than $2,000 as of Thursday afternoon.
The crash happened about 8:15 a.m. Wednesday near Lovetree Lane and County Road 100 North. Witnesses reported to police that a 2011 Nissan Altima was traveling fast before it left the road and hit a tree. When deputies arrived, Kendall and Richardson were found dead inside the car. Crabtree was outside and was rushed to the hospital.
The crash was serious and the vehicle was split into three pieces. A reconstruction team said the road was covered in snow, but not icy at the time of the crash.
Family has been notified. Kendall and Richardson’s preliminary cause of death is multiple blunt force trauma due to motor vehicle accident. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected, according to police.
The Tippecanoe School Corporation has provided extra support staff for Harrison students.