At approximately 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, along with other public safety personnel, were dispatched to the 47-mile marker of Interstate 74 regarding a crash with serious injuries. Arriving deputies located a vehicle in the median, and another vehicle in the ditch on the north side of westbound I-74.Witnesses stated that a red Ford Ranger driven by Dale Tait (52) of Danville, IL was traveling eastbound on I-74, lost control, went through the median, and struck a red Ford F350, that was traveling westbound on I-74. Tait and a passenger, Teresa Billings were both ejected from the vehicle. Tait was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indiana polis in critical condition. Billings was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the westbound F350, Hodson Napier, 18, of Indianapolis, was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. His passenger was released on the scene after refusing medical treatment. Both directions of Interstate 74 were closed for approximately three hours during the investigation.
At this time, it is unknown if drugs or alcohol are involved in this crash. Roadway surface conditions are a potential factor in the crash. The Boone County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team was called to the scene to investigate.