Head-on crash kills three on I-69 Friday night

Update: Indiana State Police have released the identities of the driver and passenger in the GMC Terrain.

Jason Lowe, 44, of Fishers, was operating the SUV when it was struck. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Samantha Lowe, 46, Fisher, was a passenger and is still being treated for her injuries at Deaconess Hospital.

After further investigation, officers believe drugs may have been a factor in this crash. Brian Paquette, 48, of Newport News, Vir., continues to be treated at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville.

This is an on-going investigation. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

A head-on collision involving three vehicles killed three people, including a 5-month-pregnant mom, Friday evening.

According to Indiana State Police, Trooper Hunter Manning was parked on I-69 southbound at the 42 mile-marker when a motorist stopped to inform him that they had observed a Chevrolet Tahoe driving northbound in the southbound lanes. Manning immediately proceeded northbound and located the vehicle traveling north in the southbound lanes near the 48.5 mile-marker.

Manning drove into the median in an attempt to get the wrong way driver’s attention but the driver of the Tahoe entered the median and made a U-turn into the northbound lanes of I-69 and proceeded south. Trooper Manning followed the vehicle in the southbound lanes still attempting to get the driver’s attention.

Moments later, the Tahoe ran head-on into a 2014 Ford Focus driving northbound in the passing lane near the 49 mile-marker. The impact caused the Ford Focus to rotate clockwise into the path of a 2011 GMC Terrain that was traveling northbound in the driving lane. The GMC collided with the Ford.

The driver of the GMC was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger was taken to Deaconess Hospital where she is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Their identities will be released later today after their family have been notified.

Preliminary investigation revealed Brian Paquette, 48, of Newport News, Vir., was driving his 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe southbound in the northbound passing lane. Stephanie Molinet, 22, of Elberfeld, was driving her 2014 Ford Focus northbound in the passing lane when the two vehicles struck head-on.

Autumn Kapperman, 21, of Boonville, who was five-months pregnant, was a front seat passenger in the Ford Focus, which was being driven by Stephanie Molinet, 22, of Elberfeld. Kapperman was pronounced dead at the scene. Molinet was taken to Deaconess Hospital where she died early Saturday morning from her injuries.

Brian Paquette, 48, of Newport News, Vir., was operating the Tahoe at the time of the accident. He was also transported to Deaconess Hospital where he is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

All three vehicles were totaled. The northbound lanes of I-69 were closed for approximately three hours while troopers investigated the crash.

This is an on-going investigation.