Steuben County, IN (June 18, 2026) – A 17-year-old girl was killed Tuesday morning, June 16, following a collision at a rural Steuben County intersection, according to the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency crews were dispatched at approximately 7:20 a.m. to the area of State Road 327 and County Road 350 North in Jackson Township after reports that one of the drivers involved was unconscious.
Responders arrived to find 17-year-old Febie Booher of Orland suffering from severe injuries. A medical helicopter was requested to transport her to a hospital, but authorities said she succumbed to her injuries before the aircraft could arrive and was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a preliminary investigation, Booher had been stopped at a stop sign on County Road 250 North and was attempting to turn north onto State Road 327. Investigators said a pickup truck was traveling northbound on SR 327 when Booher pulled into the intersection in front of the approaching vehicle.
The pickup truck driver attempted to brake and swerve to avoid a collision but was unable to do so. The truck struck the driver’s side of Booher’s vehicle.
Officials reported that Booher was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the collision.
The crash remains under investigation.
Failure-to-Yield Crashes at Rural Intersections Can Be Deadly
Intersections controlled by stop signs require drivers to accurately judge the speed and distance of approaching traffic before entering or crossing a roadway. When a vehicle pulls into the path of oncoming traffic, the resulting collision can occur with little opportunity for either driver to avoid impact.
Side-impact crashes are particularly dangerous because they provide less protection to occupants than front or rear collisions. Safety experts also note that seatbelt use remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of fatal injuries in serious crashes.
Investigators typically examine vehicle damage, roadway evidence, witness statements, and traffic conditions to determine the sequence of events and identify contributing factors.
