At 9:35 a.m. Tuesday,, the Howard County 911 Dispatch Center received a report of a single motor vehicle accident in the area of 1150 W. & 00 NS with unknown injuries.
Upon the deputy’s arrival, medics from Howard Regional Health and members of the Burlington Fire Department were on scene attempting to gain entry into a purple 1994 Ford Ranger that was located at the bottom of a steep ravine to the north of the intersection. However, once access was gained, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Anthony M. Benedict, 26 of Peru, was pronounced deceased at 10 a.m. It was later determined that Anthony had been reported as a missing person to the Kokomo Police Department on January 4.
Preliminary investigations indicate that while driving South on 1150 W. from SR22, the Ford Ranger continued to drive straight through a curve and ran off the roadway. Once the vehicle left the road, the vehicle struck a tree before coming to a rest down a steep ravine nearly out of view from the road.
An autopsy will be conducted at Community Howard Regional Health under the direction of the Howard County Coroner’s Office. This is an active investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Deputy Chesshir at 765-614-3469.