At approximately 3:50 p.m. this afternoon officer, firefighters, and first responders were called to the 233-mile marker of I-69 for a report of a car off the west side of the road into a tree.
Daleville officers and firefighters arrived to find Dion L. Crittle, age 24, of St. Louis, Missouri walking away from the crash and refusing to stop.
An officer with the help of a firefighter was able to subdue and place Mr. Crittle into handcuffs until they could determine what had happened.
At some point Officers and firefighters noticed Mr. Crittle had become unresponsive on the ground where he was placed and they immediately rendered first aid.
Mr. Crittle was transported to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The exact cause of the death of Mr. Crittle is unknown pending autopsy results.
The Daleville Police Department has asked the Indiana State Police to conduct an investigation into the incident.
A preliminary investigation by Detective Ron Halbert and the Indiana State Police – Pendleton Crash Reconstruction Team indicated that a black 2019 Hyundai, being driven by Mr. Crittle was traveling south on the southbound on-ramp to I-69 from S.R. 67.
While traveling southbound Mr. Crittle’s vehicle left the roadway. Once off the roadway the vehicle proceeded through the retaining fence of the interstate and into an open grass field, before striking a tree.
Family notifications have been made. These are all of the facts that are available for release at this time. The investigation remains on-going.
Assisting at the scene were Detective Dave Preston, Trooper Lee Tinch, Trooper John Clawson, Trooper Blake Stephenson, Crash Reconstructionist’ s Senior Trooper Coley McCutcheon and Trooper Mark Hanna, the Daleville Police Department, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Delaware County EMS, Daleville Fire Department, the Delaware County Coroner’s Office, as well as Northwest Wrecker Service.
