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Man charged in fatal Jennings Co. crash

JENNINGS COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – One man faces  several charges following a fatal Jennings County crash.

According to the Indiana State Police, an arrest warrant out of Jennings County, has been issued for 39-year-old Kevin Bell.

Bell faces charges for driving while suspended causing death, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, failure to report a dead body, false informing and driving while suspended.

Nikki Reed, 37, was killed in the Sept. 17 crash near U.S. 50 in Jennings County.

Bell was driving a 1999 Ford Explorer when he lost control of the vehicle in the 8600 block of east U.S. 50.  At the time, investigators determined the vehicle ran off the road, went down an embankment and then struck a tree.  Reed, who was the passenger in the vehicle, died instantly. Bell sustained injuries to his lower extremities.

Earlier this week, Bell did a phone interview with 24-Hour News 8’s sister station in Louisville explaining why he stayed in the car for three days before crawling out to find help.

“I was in tears Saturday and Sunday. I wasn’t going to attempt to get out of the truck because I was too shook up and plus I was in so much pain so I stayed in the truck,” he said.

Three days later, on September 20, Bell, who had left the vehicle, was found by a passerby.

“Everybody ignored me. The whole entire time for an hour and half,” he said of passing drivers.

Bell added that when he found his cell phone he texted a co-worker but couldn’t call 911 because his phone’s battery died.  Police said at the time Bell lied to police how he received his injuries, that he was in a crash and failed to mention that Reed had passed away.  It was then soon discovered that Bell’s license was suspended.

Police also learned Bell had an arrest warrant in his home state of Pennsylvania for failure to appear in court. The sister station learned it stems from a harassment charge.

24-Hour news 8 reached out to Reed’s family and close friends for comments on the developments but they declined.

Bell has yet to be re-located.

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