Driver, 14, and passenger, 13, die in Boone County crash; 4 other teens injured
Statement from Boone County Sheriff’s Office
“As a part of a thorough, ongoing, investigation, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Boone County Coroner’s Office has positively identified the deceased as a Nazire Parks (14-years-old) and Kamyla Young (13-years-old), both of which were residents of Indianapolis, IN. Nazire was the driver and Kamyla was the front seat passenger. Both Nazire and Kamyla died as a result of blunt force trauma.
“As stated in the initial media release, there were four other occupants in the rear seat of the vehicle, all of which were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment. The names/ages are as follows: Destine Grant (12-years-old), Jeremiah Shanks (16-years-old), Jacob Taylor (15-years-old), Jania Young (12-years-old); all of which are from Indianapolis, IN as well.
“Currently, the BCSO has no further information pertaining to the condition of any of the surviving parties.
“Please know this is still an ongoing investigation. We will provide necessary updates as more information becomes available.
“Please continue to keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.”
Statement issued Sept. 8, 2021, from Boone County Sheriff’s Office
ORIGINAL STORY
GADSDEN, Ind. (WISH) – A 14-year-old driver and a 13-year-old passenger died in a Friday morning crash in Boone County, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.
Four other teens were also hurt.
Around 4 a.m. Friday, Lawrence Police Department engaged in a pursuit with a black 2013 Kia Soul on the far east side of Indianapolis in the area of Pendleton Pike and Sheila Drive. Police say the pursuit ended approximately 15 minutes later in the area of I-65 and Traders Lane on the northwest side of Indianapolis.
At 4:23 a.m., officers received a report of a vehicle crash and fire in the area of State Road 32 and County Road 650 East, which is near the rural community of Gadsden in eastern Boone County. According to police, officers were already on scene extinguishing the fire. Police learned that the car was northbound on County Road 650 East when it hit a tree head-on.
The driver of the vehicle, a 14-year-old boy, and the front passenger, a 13-year-old girl, were pronounced dead on the scene.
Four other occupants — two 12-year-old girls, a 15 year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy — were transported to Riley Hospital at IU Health, police say.
A news release from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office did not identify any of the teens. The Boone County coroner does not plan to release the names of the deceased until Saturday.
“My heart goes out to the family, the parents, the brothers and the sisters that are related to these young juveniles,” Lawrence Police Department Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff said.
According to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, any Hoosier who has completed an approved driver education program must be at least 16 years and 90 days old to obtain a driver’s license.
Joe Shoemaker lives close to where the crash happened. He says he was asleep, but when he woke up he heard police were nearby and saw that the road was closed.
“It must have been two hours before they got it opened up,” Shoemaker said.
Shoemaker said he’s lived in the area for decades and doesn’t remember the last time an accident like this one happened in the area.
“I’ve been here 87 years. It’ll be 88 in December,” Shoemaker said. “I can’t remember when the last one was.”
The sheriff’s office has not yet completed its investigation.
Police have not said why the chase initially began.
The crash was one of two fatal ones in the early morning hours in Boone County.