UPDATE: Victim's name, Oak Road crash cause released by county police

May 09, 2012|WSBT-TV Report

UPDATE:

Thursday morning, St. Joseph County Police released the name of the woman killed in Wednesday evening's crash near Potato Creek State Park, citing speed as the primary factor causing the accident.

Katherine Lynn Thompson, 20, was a passenger in a car driven by a 17-year-old female. The driver apparently lost control of the car and it struck several trees and rolled over in the 66500 block of Oak Road.

Police said Thompson has a Lafayette, Ind., address, but recently had been staying in the South Bend area. The 17-year-old's name is not being released because of her age. Police said Tuesday the driver and Thompson are cousins.

St. Joseph County Police and Fatal Alcohol Crash Team investigators are still working to determine the vehicle's approximate speed at the time of the crash.

Toxicology results are not yet available.

Stay with WSBT on air and online for updates on this story.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

A 20-year-old female passenger was killed and 17-year-old female driver injured when their vehicle hit some trees and rolled near Potato Creek State Park, according to a WSBT reporter at the scene.

This one-vehicle crash happened around 5:30 p.m. in the 66500 block of Oak Road. The northbound Honda Civic went out of control and drove off the east side of the road, striking at least two trees and flipping over on its side.

The driver was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend with non-life-threatening injuries. Police tell us her and the deceased passenger were cousins. Their names will be released tomorrow.

There is no indication that drugs or alcohol were involved, but the FACT investigation team was called in to determine whether speed or other types of reckless driving could have been a factor.

Toxicology tests have been administered and the results may not be known for several weeks. The investigation is ongoing.

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