Wrong-Way Driver Causes Fatal Multi-Vehicle Crash on I-69: Victoria and Evan Cox of Fort Wayne Killed

Tragic Crash on Interstate 69 Claims Two Lives

Wrong-way Driver Causes Multi-Vehicle Collision in Daleville, Indiana

DALEVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — In the early hours of Sunday morning, a devastating multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 69 in Delaware County resulted in the loss of two lives. The victims have been identified as Victoria Cox, 32, and Evan Cox, 26, both residents of Fort Wayne.

According to Indiana State Police, the incident unfolded at approximately 2:21 a.m. when the Madison County Central Dispatch Center received a distress call regarding a wrong-way driver. A mere ten minutes later, dispatch received another alarming report of a head-on collision at the 234-mile marker on I-69 southbound, near the Daleville exit.

Daleville, a town located about a 15-minute drive east of Anderson, became the unfortunate backdrop for this tragic event.

Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement officers were confronted with the sight of several damaged vehicles obstructing the southbound lanes of I-69.

During the preliminary investigation, officers discovered that a silver Kia Forte, driven by 30-year-old Walter Saucedo-Mendoza, was traveling north in the southbound lanes when it collided head-on with a white Chevy Malibu. Victoria and Evan Cox were identified as the occupants of the Chevy.

The impact of the collision caused the engine of the Kia to detach and land in the left lane of the road. A silver Volkswagen subsequently collided with the dislodged engine. Additionally, the Kia struck a semi-truck traveling southbound before coming to an “uncontrolled rest,” as described by the police.

Tragically, both Victoria and Evan Cox were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Saucedo-Mendoza, the driver of the Kia, was initially transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital for further medical attention. Thankfully, the other two drivers involved in the collision did not sustain any injuries, according to the authorities.

Preliminary investigations strongly suggest that alcohol impairment played a significant role in the occurrence of this devastating crash.

Due to the severity of the incident, the southbound lanes of I-69 remained closed for approximately four and a half hours. This temporary closure was necessary to facilitate a thorough investigation of the accident and to safely clear the wreckage from the roadway.