UPDATE (October 4, 2022):
ST. JOSEPH CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – A Youngstown school teacher and a former standout student-athlete have been confirmed as victims in a fatal Indiana vehicle accident.
Jillian Marian and Mark Pelini, both 31, were among three people killed in an accident involving a deer on the Indiana Toll Road Sunday night. Marian taught math at Hubbard High School while Pelini had played football at Cardinal Mooney and later played college ball at Nebraska.
The driver of a Ford pickup involved in the crash has been identified as David Taylor, 56 of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Indiana State Police released the following:
The investigation into the crash that claimed three lives on the Indiana Toll Road last (Monday) evening continues.
The driver of the white SUV, a 2017 Ford, has been identified as Mark Pelini, 31 of Canfield, OH. The front seat passenger has been identified as Jillian Marian, 31 of Youngstown, OH.
The driver of the black 2017 Ford pickup has been identified as David Taylor, 56 of Harrisburg, PA. The deceased front seat passenger has been identified as Jane Beecher, 57 of Harrisburg, PA. The injured backseat passenger has been identified as Christopher Taylor, 29 of Harrisburg, PA. David Taylor and Christopher Taylor remain in the hospital due to their injuries.
Families of the deceased have been notified.
ORIGINAL STORY:
ST. JOSEPH CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – A crash on the Indiana Toll Road in St. Joseph County last night killed three and left two others badly hurt.
It happened just before 8 p.m. when a westbound SUV hit a deer and crossed the median, hitting an eastbound pickup truck head-on. The driver and passenger in the SUV were killed along with a passenger in the pickup.
No names have yet been released by Indiana State Police.
Indiana State Police released the following:
A crash on the Indiana Toll Road this evening has claimed three lives and injured two others.
At approximately 7:55 p.m., on October 2, 2022, Indiana State Police Dispatch began receiving calls of a serious crash on the Indiana Toll Road near mile marker 67.6 involving two vehicles that had eastbound lanes blocked.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Bryce Bustamante indicates that a white SUV was traveling westbound when it struck a deer. The white SUV then crossed the center median and collided with a black Ford pickup truck that was traveling eastbound.
Both the driver and passenger of the white SUV died as a result of the crash. Both were pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the black Ford pickup and backseat passenger were transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN with serious injuries. The front seat passenger in the Ford died in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Eastbound lanes remain closed for crash investigation and removal of the vehicles. Eastbound traffic is being diverted at the LaPorte Exit at mile marker 49.
The Indiana State Police were assisted at the crash scene by South Bend Fire, Clay Territory Fire, Warren Township Fire, the St. Joseph County Coroner, and ITRCC Maintenance.