Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Woman Dies in Interstate Crash in Lebanon on New Year’s Eve

An autopsy was conducted on Wednesday for a woman who tragically lost her life in an interstate crash in Lebanon on New Year’s Eve. Linda McLemore, a 52-year-old resident of Michigan City, was involved in the accident when her 2005 GMC Savana van overturned and landed on its side north of Ind. 32. According to a statement from the Lebanon Police Department, McLemore was partially ejected from the vehicle and subsequently pinned underneath it. Fortunately, the two family members who were traveling with her managed to escape the van just after 9 p.m. The interstate was closed for over three hours to allow authorities to investigate the incident.

McLemore was pronounced dead at the scene, with Boone County Coroner Justin Sparks stating that she had sustained injuries that were immediately life-ending. The cause of death has not been disclosed, as it is pending laboratory results, in accordance with Sparks’ standard practice. The LPD statement confirmed that McLemore had already succumbed to her injuries sustained in the collision.

The investigation revealed that a SWIFT semitrailer collided with McLemore’s van. Fortunately, the driver of the semitrailer did not sustain any reported injuries. The incident occurred during icy road conditions, with several crashes being reported in the area around the same time.

The Boone County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (FACT) has been assigned to investigate the crash. FACT specializes in examining fatal and serious accidents throughout Boone County and is comprised of members who are highly trained in collecting forensic data from crash sites.

Unfortunately, fatal crashes have been a recurring occurrence in Boone County in 2023. Some of the notable incidents include:

• Edwin Ramirez, a 22-year-old from Lafayette, who died in a single-vehicle accident in late January. Ramirez was alone and wearing a seatbelt when his SUV rolled several times along Interstate 865 near Whitestown. The pavement was dry at the time of the crash, but ice and snowfall began shortly after the incident.
• Amber Williams, a 45-year-old resident of Thorntown, lost her life in April when she was ejected from the SUV she was driving along Ind. 47 near Thorntown.
• Dionna Scott, a 42-year-old pedestrian, tragically passed away in April after being struck by a vehicle along U.S. 421 near Willow Road in Zionsville.

• In October, a fiery crash claimed the lives of two men on Ind. 32 west of Lebanon. The collision occurred when a semi-tractor with a trailer collided with another semi-tractor with a trailer, resulting in a catastrophic explosion. The drivers were identified as Ranjeet Benipal, 30, of Fresno, Calif., and Kevin Barrientos, 31, of Indianapolis.
• In June, a local fisherman discovered an SUV submerged in a pond along U.S. 52 near Thorntown. The vehicle contained the body of Daniel Fastenau, a 57-year-old resident of Indianapolis. Fastenau’s cause of death was ruled undetermined, as he had drowned but also had significant hypertensive arteriosclerosis cardiovascular disease.

These incidents highlight the importance of road safety and the need for caution, particularly during adverse weather conditions. The Boone County community mourns the loss of these individuals and remains committed to preventing further tragedies on the roads.

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