GREENFIELD — A Richmond woman accused of driving drunk and causing a fatal crash in Hancock County last week faces four felony charges.
Leanna Murphy, 24, appeared in Hancock County Superior Court 1 on Monday. Police reported she was driving drunk about 12:45 a.m. July 4 when her car, a Mini Cooper, crossed the centerline on State Road 234 near Troy Road and struck a Ford Focus head-on. One of the passengers in the Focus, Rachel Thomas, 44, Wilkinson, was killed, while three other occupants were injured. Murphy and a passenger in the Mini Cooper were injured as well.
A probable cause affidavit filed by the New Palestine Police Department, which assisted with the crash, reports that Murphy emitted an odor of an alcoholic beverage at the crash scene and that multiple open alcohol containers were found in the Mini Cooper.
The affidavit states Murphy agreed to a certified chemical test, the results of which “showed a positive presence for alcohol, with a reading of .094%.”
Murphy was charged Monday with causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 4 felony; causing catastrophic injury when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 4 felony; causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 5 felony; reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony; operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, an A misdemeanor; and reckless driving causing bodily injury, an A misdemeanor.
Hancock County Superior Court 1 Judge Terry Snow said during Murphy’s hearing that the two Level 4 felony counts carry a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison if convicted.
Murphy requested a court-appointed attorney, which Snow granted before assigning Robert Elsea to the case.
Hancock County deputy prosecutor Kevin Kelly requested a $10,000 cash bond for Murphy, citing the seriousness of the charges and Murphy’s out-of-county residence. Snow remanded Murphy to the custody of the Hancock County Sheriff pending the posting of a $3,000 cash bond. Snow then set a pretrial hearing for 9 a.m. Aug. 28.
Police reported last week that Rachel May Thomas, 44, Wilkinson, a backseat passenger in the Focus involved in the crash, was pronounced dead after being transported to Hancock Regional Hospital.
The probable cause affidavit states that Shelbie Gossett Kazen, the driver of the Focus, was extricated and transported by helicopter to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where she was admitted with multiple broken bones.
Brett Lamb, a passenger in the Mini Cooper, was transported to Hancock Regional Hospital with a laceration on his head.
Jonathan Davidson, the front-seat passenger in the Focus, was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital with a complaint of overall pain.
Justin Wiley, a backseat passenger in the Focus, was transported to Methodist as well with internal abdominal pain.
Murphy was transported to Hancock Regional Hospital, where she was treated for a broken arm. After being released from the hospital, she was incarcerated in the Hancock County Jail on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death. Snow released Murphy on Friday while the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office continued its investigation.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the preliminary investigation of the crash indicates that the Mini Cooper crossed left of State Road 234’s center line by about 3 to 4 feet before striking the Focus “in an off-center head-on collision.”
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department downloaded both vehicle’s crash data records, the affidavit states. The Focus’ records report a speed of 60 mph along with braking and steering input before the crash. The Mini Cooper’s records report a speed of 57 mph with braking and steering input before the crash as well.
