Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A Warsaw teen may be charged in the death of Ashley Sloderbeck, 16, in a car accident Tuesday night.
Paperwork from the case will be forwarded to the Kosciusko County prosecutor from the sheriff's department when the investigation is done.
Ryan Lee Oler, 17, EMS R3E Lane, Pierceton, was the driver of a car that struck a utility pole on CR 300E, south of CR 100N, near Warsaw.
According to police reports, Oler said he was driving fast and began to swerve the vehicle back and forth in the road until the tires began to slide. He also reported the back of the car started to skid out of control and he went into a ditch.
Oler told police he was "braking real hard" but the car continued to slide more than 110 feet until it hit a utility pole.
Sloderbeck was fatally injured when her head struck the pole. She was a backseat passenger in the car. She was pronounced dead at Kosciusko Community Hospital of extensive head injuries late Tuesday night.
The front seat passenger, Toby D. Jackson, 16, Pierceton, was taken to KCH for serious head injuries. He was reportedly injured after going through the windshield. He was later released.
The other backseat passenger with Sloderbeck was Wendy Obooz, 15, Warsaw. She was also taken to KCH with serious head injuries and later released.
Oler was treated at KCH for minor bleeding and observation and released. He told police none of people in the car was wearing a seatbelt.
Police reported alcohol was not involved in the accident.
