Published: July 20, 2008 12:13 am            

Driver dies after car hits tree

Howard County sheriff deputies are investigating a single-car crash that resulted in the death of a Kokomo man on U.S. 35 near 450 East Saturday afternoon.

Christopher Sample, 30, was westbound on U.S. 35 when the 1993 red Ford Tempo GL four-door left the road and smashed into a tree in front of a home just west of the highway’s intersection with 450 East.

Dispatchers received numerous calls, beginning at 3:49 p.m., and emergency personnel arrived quickly, but Sample was dead at the scene. He suffered fractures and blunt force trauma.

According to Howard County Sheriff deputies, there were two eyewitnesses to the accident. They told deputies the Tempo went off the north side of U.S. 35 and traveled nearly 700 feet before hitting the tree.

Sample, who was the only person in the vehicle, was not wearing a seatbelt.

“Sample was not licensed and was operating on an Indiana identification card only,” Sheriff Marty Talbert said.

Deputies do not believe the weather contributed to the incident.

“There was a hard rain following the crash, but the pavement was dry at the time the crash occurred,” Deputy Paul Cherry said.

Deputy coroner Jay Price is assisting with the investigation. Sample’s body was transported to the morgue at Howard Regional Health System for post-mortem examination. Toxicology tests for drugs and alcohol will be performed.

Deputies were assisted Greentown and Taylor volunteer fire department and EMS, and paramedics from Howard Regional.

The Howard County Emergency Management Agency provided traffic control while investigators worked the crash site.

The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Deputy Paul Cherry at (765) 457-1105.

        

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