Tippecanoe County, IN (January 16, 2026) – A 16-year-old girl is recovering in the hospital after suffering serious injuries in a two-vehicle crash that occurred early on January 15 in Tippecanoe County. The collision took place around 7:11 a.m. on East County Road 800 South near the intersection with Walnut Ridge Rd.
First responders arrived to find the girl trapped on the passenger side of a 2005 Toyota Tacoma following the head-on impact. Emergency crews worked to extricate her from the wreckage before she was airlifted to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Authorities later confirmed her condition had improved to serious but stable.
The initial investigation revealed that the Tacoma, driven by a 17-year-old male, was traveling westbound when the driver lost control on the icy roadway. The truck spun into oncoming traffic and was struck on the passenger side by an eastbound Jeep Wrangler.
The Jeep was being driven by another 17-year-old male, who had his 13-year-old sister as a passenger. Both were treated on scene and released. Police confirmed that all individuals involved were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
County Road 800 South remained closed for approximately three hours as investigators reconstructed the scene and cleared debris. Authorities have stated that neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected factors in the incident.
We extend our thoughts to the young girl as she recovers from her injuries and wish strength to all families affected by this crash.
