At approximately 6:49 a.m. Saturday, officers from the Indiana State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Cass County Road 825 West near Cass County Road 250 North, in which two people were severely injured.
The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper Chris Miller revealed that Brady Riley, 19, Burnettsville, was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo southbound on County Road 825 West near County Road 250 North. For an undetermined reason, the Chevrolet traveled off the west side of the road, into a wooded area, and hit multiple trees.
Riley had to be extricated from the vehicle by firefighters. He was flown, via medical helicopter, to a Ft. Wayne hospital with possible broken bones and internal injuries. James Hornback, 21, Royal Center, a passenger in the Chevrolet, was ejected from the vehicle. His left leg was severed below the knee.
Prior to the arrival of emergency responders, friends of Riley and Hornback utilized a belt as a make shift tourniquet. They tightened the belt around Hornback’s severed leg to prevent blood loss from the injured limb. Trooper Miller was the first emergency responder on scene. He also applied a tourniquet to the leg. The actions of the friends and Trooper Miller possibly saved Hornback’s life. Hornback was flown, via medical helicopter, to a Ft Wayne hospital.
The injured men had been at a campfire prior to the crash. When they did not return to the campfire as expected, a group of friends went looking for them. The friends found the crashed vehicle and injured men. The friends are the ones who called 911.
Neither Riley nor Hornback was wearing a seat belt. Trooper Miller believes their injuries would have been reduced had they been properly restrained.
This is an ongoing investigation.Trooper Miller was assisted at the scene by ISP Sergeant Rick Brown and the Royal Center Fire Department.
All Indiana State Police officers are issued tourniquets as part of their duty gear. Officers train annually on applying them properly.