UPDATE: Robert L. Taylor, age 81, of Wabash, Indiana, died of blunt impact injuries of the neck
and torso sustained when his 2008 Buick Lucerne was struck from behind by a 2014 Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The impact caused the Buick to hit a 2015 Chevy Cruze that was stopped in-front of the decedent, sending all vehicles into the intersection.
A front seat passenger in the Buick, Gwendolyn S. Taylor, age 59, of Wabash, Indiana, the decedent’s daughter, was transported by ground ambulance to a Fort Wayne hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The death has been ruled accidental.
Drug’s or alcohol are not believed to be factors in this crash. The investigation continues with the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, Huntington County F.A.C.T., and Huntington County Coroner’s Office.
The coroner’s office was assisted by the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, Roanoke Police Department, Roanoke Fire Department, Aboite Fire Department and EMS, Huntington County F.A.C.T., Huntington County Sheriff Traffic Unit, and Parkview Huntington Hospital EMS.
ORIGINAL RELEASE: HUNTINGTON COUNTY, IN- A 3-vehicle personal injury and fatal collision occurred Monday, May 1, 2023, at 10:40AM in Huntington County. Emergency personnel were dispatched to the junction of US Highway 24 at SR 114 in Jackson Township, Roanoke, Indiana on the report of a 3-vehicle rear-end collision. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered the male driver of a 2008 Buick Lucerne was deceased in the driver’s seat. A female passenger was found in the front passenger seat and was transported by ambulance to a Fort Wayne hospital with unknown injuries.
Mark A. Floyd, age 55, of Andrews, Indiana, was the operator of a Toyota Tundra pickup truck, which collided with the Buick. He was transported by ambulance to a Fort Wayne Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The third vehicle, a 2015 Chevy Cruze, was operated by Mallory E. Myers, age 30, of Huntington, Indiana. A front seat passenger in her vehicle, Holly K. Smith, age 37, of Huntington, Indiana, as well as two minor children, were uninjured.
Witness reports indicate that the Buick and Chevy Cruze were stopped in the driving lane at the stop light, when the pickup truck struck the rear of the Buick. The impact caused the Buick to hit the Chevy Cruze, sending all vehicles into the intersection.
The names of the decedent and passenger will be released once notification of next-of-kin has been made. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center, to determine the cause of death.
The investigation into the crash continues with the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, Huntington County F.A.C.T., and Huntington County Coroner’s Office.
The coroner’s office was assisted by the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, Roanoke Police Department, Roanoke Fire Department, Aboite Fire Department and EMS, Huntington County F.A.C.T., Huntington County Sheriff Traffic Unit, and Parkview Huntington Hospital EMS.