Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Double Fatal Accident at S. State Road 37 and Zikes Road
On Monday, April 24, 2023, at 3:16pm, Deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of South State Road 37 and Zikes Road for a reported head on collision. Upon arrival, Deputies located two single occupant vehicles with the drivers entrapped. IU Health Lifeline Ambulance Service and Monroe Fire Protection administered emergency medical care on scene, but it was later determined by the Monroe County Corner’s Office the two drivers died on scene from their injuries.
Monroe County Accident Reconstructionist was requested to process the scene. The responding Deputies and the Reconstructionist gathered from witnesses and other evidence that the 2012 White Chevrolet Express Van was traveling south on State Road 37 when it signaled to the right shoulder then suddenly veered left, crossing the median. As a result, a head on collision occurred with a 2015 Black Mercedes Sprinter Van that was traveling north on State Road 37. The names of the drivers will be withheld until the Monroe County Coroner’s Office completes their investigation and notifications.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office sent condolences to all the families and community members affected by this tragedy through social media.
Conservation Officers release identity of victim in Warrick County death investigation
Indiana Conservation Officers have released the identity of the body found in Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area in northwest Warrick County on Saturday morning as Manuel Eduardo Heaton, 27, of Evansville.
This death is being investigated as a homicide. A joint investigation is being conducted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division and detectives from the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office. Indiana State Police, Warrick County Prosecutor’s Office, Boonville Fire Department, and the Warrick County Coroner’s Office are assisting in this investigation.
Heaton’s remains were found by a passerby at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Saturday in the area of St. Johns Road and Kansas Road, near the Scaup Pit.
Detectives are requesting anyone with information to contact the Indiana DNR Law Enforcement Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536 or the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office at 812-897-6180.
Indiana State Police Trooper of the Year: M/Trp. Jarrod H. Lents
Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter has announced the recipient of the 2022 Indiana State Police Trooper of the Year. This honor is presented to the Trooper who inspires others to serve in a manner that significantly exceeds expectations. Performance includes outstanding levels of traffic and criminal enforcement, case and crash investigations, public information programs, and, most importantly, serving the communities within the State of Indiana. The Trooper of the Year has exemplified strength of character, a strong work ethic, and an unsurpassed level of integrity that is the embodiment of being an Indiana State Trooper.
M/Trp. Lents graduated from Bedford North Lawrence High School in 1999. In May 2004, Lents graduated from Indiana State University with a BS in Criminology. In October 2004, Lents graduated from the 64th Indiana State Police Recruit class and was assigned to the Lafayette Post for two years before transferring to the Jasper District.
Currently, Master Trooper Lents is assigned a day shift in Martin County. Martin County is a very rural community with a small Law Enforcement presence. In 2022, Master Trooper Lents issued 1449 traffic warnings and 687 Uniform Traffic Tickets totaling 2136 traffic contacts and 5 Operating While Intoxicated arrests. Criminally, Master Trooper Lents arrested 76 defendants on 152 criminal charges, 35 of those being felonies. M/Trp. Lents was the lead officer on 54 criminal incident reports which were not all traffic stop related. M/Trp. Lents worked on multiple complex investigations using his experience as a prior Field Investigator to ensure that victims of crimes were effectively represented.
This Week in Hoosier History
1950 – Roy Halston Frowick, known as Halston, was born. He moved to Evansville at age 14, where he developed an interest in sewing from his grandmother. Halston Created the famous pillbox hat worn by Jacqueline Kennedy to her husband’s presidential inauguration. Halston had a significant impact on women’s fashion.
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