Two teenagers die in crash involving car and semitrailer in Indiana

Southwest Sullivan School staff and students are sad over the loss of a recent high school graduate and a current sophomore who died in a traffic accident Thursday on U.S. 41 near Carlisle, Indiana.

Siblings Shelby Horton, 18, and Connor Rodriguez, 16, both of Carlisle, died in the crash involving a passenger vehicle and a semitrailer.

Horton was 2020 graduate of Sullivan High School, while Rodriguez was a sophomore at Sullivan.

“On behalf of the entire Southwest School Corporation community, we extend are sincerest sympathies to all family and friends of Shelby and Conner. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers,” said Chris Stitzle, district superintendent.

Counselors will be available when students and staff get back from spring break next week, he said.

Donations are being accepted for helping with funeral expenses; people can send their donations to Holmes Memorial Chapel, P.O. Box 275, Sullivan, IN 47882.

The crash took place at the junction of Indiana 58 and U.S. 41.

Horton was traveling east on Indiana 58 about 1:45 p.m. and ignored the stop sign on the southbound side of the junction at U.S. 41, Indiana State Police said. She continued east into the northbound lanes of U.S. 41 and into the path of a 2007 semitrailer driven by Timothy Sarver, 38, of Terre Haute.

Sarver braked and attempted an evasive maneuver but wasn’t able to prevent the crash. The force of the crash pushed both the semi and passenger vehicle to the east side of U.S. 41 and off the road, where the two came to a stop.

Horton was taken to Terre Haute Regional Hospital but later died there. Rodriguez, a passenger in the car, died at the scene.

Sarver was not injured.

The accident is currently being investigated.