Police have charged a Rising Sun woman with reckless homicide and three other felonies in connection with a 2018 crash that left a teenager dead, the Dearborn and Ohio County prosecutor announced Friday.
Jennifer Turner, 41, was arrested Friday after an investigation by Indiana State Police investigation and Ohio County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities said the crash took place on Sept. 25, 2018 at approximately 10:40 p.m. when Turner was driving a Dodge Journey with her two children, ages 8 and 15, inside.
Traffic investigators found Turner lost control of her vehicle in a turn, crossing the center line and striking a Chevy Impala driven by 19-year-old Lauren Rose of Vevay, Indiana. Authorities said Turner “made no attempt to brake before impact.”
After crews pulled Rose from her vehicle, she was transported to High Point Health, where she later died of her injuries. A passenger riding with her was not injured, authorities said.
The 15-year-old child suffered a lacerated spleen, lacerated pancreas, lacerated liver and multiple rib fractures, and the 8-year-old sustained a broken elbow.
Turner later told investigators she had been up since 6:30 a.m. that morning and had taken multiple doses of both hydrocodone and methadone throughout the day prior to the crash.
Turner was charged Friday with four felonies including reckless homicide, operating a motor vehicle with a schedule I or II substance causing a crash, neglect of a dependent causing serious bodily injury and neglect of a dependent causing bodily injury.
“This tragic case is a reminder to never get behind the wheel of a vehicle when you are under the influence of any substance that can cause impairment, whether it is prescribed or not,” Prosecutor Lynn Deddens said. “Certain prescription drugs come with warnings not to drive while taking them and those warnings are there to protect both the patient and the public.”
