Published: July 23, 2008 10:25 am      

NEW: Man killed in morning crash

A Kokomo man was killed instantly in a high-speed single car crash early Wednesday, marking the third fatal in Howard County since Saturday.

Mark A. Likens, 30, Kokomo, was pronounced dead at the scene by Howard County Deputy Coroner Jay Price.

Howard County sheriff deputies reported that Likens was eastbound on County Road 100 North, near County Road 1250 East at about 4:15 a.m. at a high rate of speed. Likens lost control of his vehicle, traveled off the north side of the roadway, sheared a utility pole in two, and came to rest 195 feet east of the pole.

Likens was wearing a seat belt, but the pole impacted broadside into the driver’s door.

Greentown firefighters had to extricate Likens from his brown 1999 Pontiac Bonneville four-door car.

“High speed was a definite factor in this crash,” Sheriff Marty Talbert said. “The impact with the utility pole cut nearly halfway through the car.”

Authorities had a difficult time notifying Likens’ next of kin, as Likens’ driver’s license and vehicle showed a former address that was more than a year old, Talbert said.

Sheriff deputies are awaiting the results of a chemical test performed on a blood sample obtained from the victim. Indiana State Police Master Trooper Earl McCullough, an accident reconstructionist, is assisting with the investigation.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Howard County Emergency Management Agency, and crews from Duke Energy. This is the third fatal crash investigated by the Sheriff’s Department since Saturday afternoon. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Deputy Jordan Buckley at the Howard County Sheriff Department at (765) 457-1105.