A volunteer firefighter was killed at the scene of a crash Friday night after being run over by another responding firefighter.

Arrested and Charged was Colby Blake, 26, of Cannelburg, IN. 

He was charged with 

– Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated Causing Death, Level 4 Felony

– Reckless Driving, Class A Misdemeanor

At 9:55 PM Friday night, a crash with injury was reported along Old Highway 50 (County Road 100 South), just west of County Road 800 East.  Deputies from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department and three firefighters from the Montgomery and Cannelburg Fire Departments had arrived at the scene.  The three firefighters had arrived in their personal vehicles. 

A fourth responding firefighter, 26-year-old Colby Blake of Cannelburg, was traveling east in his 2006 Dodge Ram truck.  While approaching the scene, Blake struck the rear of another Dodge Ram truck parked by a firefighter along the south side of the road.  Blake’s Dodge continued east, striking a 2013 Ford Fusion parked by 27-year-old Kendall Murphy of Montgomery.  Murphy, a firefighter who had responded to the scene, was standing outside of his Ford, and was struck by Blake’s Dodge as it continued east.

Blake crashed into a third firefighter’s vehicle after striking Murphy, a 2007 Ford F350 truck, before coming to a stop.

Murphy suffered numerous injuries after being struck.  He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Daviess County Coroner.

Blake was uninjured in the crash; however, after further investigation, was found to be operating while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of 0.21%.

Blake has been preliminarily charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Death and Reckless Driving.  He is being held in the Daviess County Security Center, with formal charges to be filed by the Daviess County Prosecutor’s Office.

This crash remains under investigation by Indiana State Police crash reconstructionists.

Investigating Officers:  Trooper Josh Greer, Master Trooper Randy Huddleston, Trooper Ross Johnson, and Trooper Nathanial Kern

As millions of travelers flood the roads this Thanksgiving, Washington County Sheriff and Salem Police Departments are partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to share an important lifesaving reminder: Buckle Up–Every Trip. Every Time.

During the 2015 Thanksgiving weekend, 301 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes
nationwide, and 53 percent were not their wearing seat belts at the time of the fatal crash.

Nighttime proved even more deadly, with 57 percent of Thanksgiving weekend crashes
occurring at night. Much like drunk driving, these deaths represent needless tragedies for
families across America. These deaths could have been completely prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

“Year after year, we are devastated by stories of family members who are killed on their way to Thanksgiving festivities,” said Washington County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Brent Miller.

“Nearly half of all drivers and passengers killed in crashes on Thanksgiving weekend in
2015 were not wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crash. This statistic is just unacceptable when we know that seat belt use is one of the simplest ways to stay safe while riding in a vehicle.”

NHTSA estimates that proper seat belt use reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury by 50 percent.

In 2015, approximately 13,941 people survived crashes because they were buckled up. If everyone had worn their seat belts that year, an additional 2,804 lives could have been saved.

NHTSA’s research also reveals that males are more likely to be unbuckled than females in a fatal crash, and that younger drivers are also at greater risk of being unbuckled. In fact, in 2015, 52 percent of the males killed in crashes were not buckled up at the time of the crash, compared to 42 percent of females.

The 13-to 15-year- old and 18- to 34-year- old age groups had the highest percentages (57% and 58%, respectively) of occupants killed who were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash.

“Our goal with the Buckle Up—Every Trip. Every Time. Seat belt awareness campaign is to save lives—period,” said Miller. “Hopefully, this campaign reminds Thanksgiving travelers, and all drivers, about the importance of buckling up–every trip, every time. Thanksgiving should be a happy time, not a tragic one.”

Whether you’re a passenger or the driver, riding long distances or short, please buckle your seat belt. Doing so ensures everyone arrives safely to their Thanksgiving destinations. Remember: Buckle Up–Every Trip. Every Time.

Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry’s would like to remind all hunters and landowners about our
deer donation program! After you’ve filled your freezer, please help us to feed those in need within your community by donating to the Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry’s “Meat” the need program.

Just take your deer in to your local meat processor/butcher shop and tell them you would like to donate it to the Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry program. There is NO charge to you! We will pay the processing fees and give this nutritious meat to local hunger relief agencies.

This is especially important with the holiday season approaching. Approximately 1 out of every 5 households within Indiana (that have children) report an inability to be able to afford enough food to feed their family.

Those affected by food insecurity are often at high-risk for obesity and diet-related
diseases due to the lack of quality in the foods that they can afford and protein, one of the most important nutrients for brain and body development in children and young adults, is also the hardest commodity for food banks to obtain.

Even as the economy is improving, many hardworking Hoosiers are still living
paycheck to paycheck.

Indiana residents who have to regularly choose between paying bills and buying
groceries, continue to struggle to stay afloat but become even more in debt. Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry works to assist in meeting basic needs within each county we serve.

By assisting individuals and families that are struggling with this situation, we are giving them the ability to avoid hunger and not have to choose between bills and groceries – allowing those aging and vulnerable populations to get back on
track to hunger-free, independent living. So please help us to make someone’s holiday hunger-free –donate a deer today!

Founded in 2011, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry encourages the donation of large game and livestock to our “Meat” the Need program, raises financial support to pay processing fees on these donations, and gives this nutritious meat to hunger relief agencies within 

Indiana. We are always accepting donations to fund our “Meat” the Need program throughout Indiana and are continuously looking for volunteers to help us in our
efforts to feed the hungry and reduce hunger issues throughout Indiana.

For more information on the Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry program, its services and to find participating meat processors in your area, orto find out how you can help, please visit www.hoosiersfeedingthehungry.org.