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Snow, road conditions may be to blame in fatal crash on US 31 in Hamilton County

BAKERS CORNER, Ind. (WISH) — Authorities have identified the man killed in a crash Friday on US 31 in Hamilton County.

Southbound U.S. 31 was closed between 266th and 256th streets, a rural stretch of the highway about 4 miles west of Arcadia. It’s about 16 miles north of Indianapolis.

Bryant Orem of the the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said the crash was reported about 4:35 p.m. in the area of U.S. 31 and 256th Street, where a northbound vehicle crossed the median into southbound traffic. The northbound vehicle was struck on the driver’s side during the collision. Medics from Jackson Township Fire Department pronounced the driver deceased at the scene of the crash. The driver was identified as 44-year-old Luz Tavarez.

The second driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Investigators were working to determine a cause for the crash, but weather and road conditions may have played a factor in the incident, Orem said.

Reports indicated nearly 2 inches of snow fell late this afternoon in Indianapolis, with higher totals reported farther north.

The crash remains under investigation and anyone with information is urged to contact the Hamilton County Crash Investigation team at 317-773-1282.