The driver whose actions killed a Tell City woman and seriously injured a Ferdinand woman was arrested this morning.
Brandon W. Chamberlain, 24, 6178 West State Road 64, Huntingburg, was arrested and charged with OWI Causing Death, Level 4 Felony, OWI Causing Death, BAC Greater than 0.15%, Level 4 Felony and OWI Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Level 6 Felony.
Level 4 felonies carry a penalty upon conviction of a fixed term between 2 and 12 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Level 6 felonies carry a penalty upon conviction of a fixed term between 6 months and 2 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
On September 24, Brandon W. Chamberlain, 24, Huntingburg, was traveling northbound on State Road 162, north of Ferdinand, in a white 2012 Ford F-350 SuperCrew pick-up truck. Chamberlain traveled left of center, striking a southbound tan 2001 Buick Century, driven by Donna Marie Evans, 60, Cannelton. The impact pushed Evans’s vehicle backwards and off of the east side of the roadway. Evans died as a result of her injuries.
As Chamberlain’s Ford continued north, Chamberlain could not maintain control of the vehicle. Due to the violent dynamics of the crash, an ATV in the bed of Chamberlain’s truck became airborne and bounced through the windshield and roofline of a red 2013 Mazda CX-5 SUV, driven by Donna R. Trafton, 58, Ferdinand. Impact by the ATV shattered the windshield and peeled the roof back off of the vehicle before coming dislodged and landing in a driveway on the west side of the roadway. Trafton’s SUV came to rest on a hillside, also on the west side of the roadway. Trafton suffered two broken vertebrae in her neck.
Through an investigation and crash reconstruction by Sgt. Philip Hensley, it was determined that Chamberlain was not only traveling northbound in the southbound lane, but was traveling 74 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone at the moment of the collision. Additionally, it was learned that Chamberlain was operating under the influence of alcoholic beverages.
Chamberlain was charged with two counts of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death – one count for the OWI with a prior conviction and one count for OWI with a blood alcohol content higher than 0.15%, and Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury. Chamberlain was booked into the Dubois County Security Center this morning.
