Kokomo – Yesterday at approximately 4:55 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Howard County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two vehicle crash on State Road 22 at Howard County Road 400 East, in which two Kokomo, IN, residents died.
The preliminary crash investigation by Senior Trooper Josh Tarrh revealed that Robert Hostetler, 86, Kokomo, IN, was driving a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis southbound on Howard County Road 400 East, approaching a stop sign at State Road 22. The Mercury stopped for the stop sign, but failed to yield to traffic on State Road 22. The Mercury pulled into the path of a westbound 2000 Chevrolet Venture mini-van, which was driven by Doran Jessup, 22, Kokomo, IN. The mini-van hit the Mercury in the driver’s side door.
Robert Hostetler and a passenger in the Mercury, Beth Hostetler, 86, Kokomo, IN, died from injuries sustained in the crash. Jeremy Jessup, 23, Kokomo, IN, a passenger in the Chevrolet, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with internal injuries. He was later transferred to an Indianapolis hospital. He is expected to survive his injuries. Doran Jessup was not injured.
This crash is still under investigation, but at this time neither the use of alcohol nor illegal narcotics is suspected as having contributed to the crash.
Senior Trooper Josh Tarrh was assisted at the crash scene by ISP Sergeant Rick Brown, the Greentown Fire Department, the Howard County Emergency Management, and Howard County EMS.
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