Fatal Crash Brings Arrest Of Indy Woman
September 29, 2020 at 1:10 a.m.
By Amanda Bridgman-
Chloe Dawn Schauinger, 18, of Indianapolis, was booked in the Whitley County Jail at 4:53 p.m. Sunday and faces a Level 4 felony charge for causing death when operating a vehicle while intoxicated; and criminal recklessness, a Level 5 felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Sept. 18 in Whitley Circuit Court, at 1:13 p.m. June 12, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call of a personal injury accident on Old Trail Road, just west of Ind. 5. The caller told dispatch that a vehicle was on fire.
Investigating officers determined that Schauinger was driving west on Old Trail Road, behind another vehicle that was hauling a utility trailer. As the vehicles came up to a hillcrest, Schauinger attempted to pass the vehicle in front of her, crossing the double yellow lines. However, a vehicle was traveling east and coming up over that hill. A collision was avoided, with Schauinger’s car leaving the roadway, striking a tree then ending up back on the road.
The drivers of the other two vehicles involved both pulled Schauinger and her small child that was in the backseat from the vehicle. Schauinger then asked them to remove her passenger, identified as Garrett Thomas Wilson, 21, of Indianapolis.
Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene by the Whitley County Coroner’s Office, court papers state, and the minor child was flown by Parkview Samaritan to a Fort Wayne Hospital. Schauinger also was taken to a Fort Wayne Hospital, where she underwent surgery and a toxicology test, according to the affidavit.
Schauinger’s blood draw results shows negative for alcohol, but positive for THC, according to court papers.
According to court records, at the time of the June crash, Schauinger had a suspended license. According to an Indianapolis obituary for Thomas, he and Schauinger were engaged.
Schauinger’s bond was set at $50,000, and she posted that bond at 10:10 a.m. Monday. A public defender will be appointed to her case, according to court records, and she’s due for a pretrial conference at 9 a.m. Oct. 26.
Latest News
E-Editions
Chloe Dawn Schauinger, 18, of Indianapolis, was booked in the Whitley County Jail at 4:53 p.m. Sunday and faces a Level 4 felony charge for causing death when operating a vehicle while intoxicated; and criminal recklessness, a Level 5 felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Sept. 18 in Whitley Circuit Court, at 1:13 p.m. June 12, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call of a personal injury accident on Old Trail Road, just west of Ind. 5. The caller told dispatch that a vehicle was on fire.
Investigating officers determined that Schauinger was driving west on Old Trail Road, behind another vehicle that was hauling a utility trailer. As the vehicles came up to a hillcrest, Schauinger attempted to pass the vehicle in front of her, crossing the double yellow lines. However, a vehicle was traveling east and coming up over that hill. A collision was avoided, with Schauinger’s car leaving the roadway, striking a tree then ending up back on the road.
The drivers of the other two vehicles involved both pulled Schauinger and her small child that was in the backseat from the vehicle. Schauinger then asked them to remove her passenger, identified as Garrett Thomas Wilson, 21, of Indianapolis.
Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene by the Whitley County Coroner’s Office, court papers state, and the minor child was flown by Parkview Samaritan to a Fort Wayne Hospital. Schauinger also was taken to a Fort Wayne Hospital, where she underwent surgery and a toxicology test, according to the affidavit.
Schauinger’s blood draw results shows negative for alcohol, but positive for THC, according to court papers.
According to court records, at the time of the June crash, Schauinger had a suspended license. According to an Indianapolis obituary for Thomas, he and Schauinger were engaged.
Schauinger’s bond was set at $50,000, and she posted that bond at 10:10 a.m. Monday. A public defender will be appointed to her case, according to court records, and she’s due for a pretrial conference at 9 a.m. Oct. 26.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092