Driver killed in three-vehicle crash in Kosciusko County

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. -- A Cromwell woman was killed on Monday in a three-vehicle crash.  It happened south of Syracuse on State Road 13.

Kosciusko County Sheriff's Deputies and emergency personnel responded to a 9-1-1 call at 10:43 a.m. about a three-vehicle crash south of Wawasee Middle School.  When officers arrived, they found a 2000 Honda mini-van crushed by a dump truck against a high-voltage power pole.

Parkview Samaritan helicopter was called to the scene as EMS and fire crews worked to free the driver from the mini van.  Her injuries proved to be severe.  The coroner pronounced 27-year-old Shareese T. Hollar dead at the scene.  The cause of death was ruled to be multiple blunt force trauma.

The Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. investigation team determined that Hollar had been stopped in traffic by an INDOT flagman, facing southbound on State Road 13.  Hollar's car was stopped behind a 1999 Ford Explorer, driven by 19-year-old Amy Lynn Richards.  According to Richards, the flagman turned the warning sign from "STOP" to "SLOW" when Hollar was struck from behind by the dump truck.  Hollar's van then hit Richards' SUV.  The truck pushed Hollar's van off the west side of State Road 13, then forced it to hit and sheer off a power pole.

56-year-old Stephen G. Stickel was driving the dump truck.  Stickel and Richards were uninjured in the crash.

Investigators are awaiting the legal blood draw results from the drivers.  The crash is still under investigation at this time.