DEKALB CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana State Police are investigating a deadly and fiery crash in DeKalb County over the weekend. Troopers say they found an Audi Avant vehicle engulfed in flames on State Road 327 just north of County Road 32. They found 19-year-old Leo Montoya of Orland suffering from burns and head trauma walking near the crash and believe he was the driver. The passenger was found dead inside the vehicle after the fire was put out.
ISP released the following on Saturday:
Early this morning at approximately 12:35am, troopers from the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post responded to a reported vehicle crash on SR 327 north of county road 32, DeKalb County. Deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were first on scene and found a Audi Avant passenger vehicle crashed into a fence and engulfed in flames. They also located an injured man walking near the crash suffering from what appeared to be burn injuries and head trauma, he would later be identified as, Leo T. Montoya, 19, of Orland, IN, and also believed to be the alleged driver.
Corunna Fire Department made the scene and extinguished the vehicle fire which then revealed a deceased passenger. As a result of that discovery, the DeKalb County Coroner was also called to the scene. The passenger has not yet been positively identified. That identification is pending with the Coroner’s investigation. A positive identification is expected in the next day or two. Once that identification is confirmed, an updated release will be sent out.
Montoya was tended to at the scene by DeKalb Parkview EMS personnel, and then transported to a Fort Wayne area hospital.
ISP Crash Reconstruction investigators were called to the scene to assume the overall investigation. The preliminary investigation has reveled that a black 2015 Audi Avant was traveling south on SR327 north of CR32, veered off the west edge of the roadway and over corrected, crossed over into the east ditch where it then struck a utility pole, a sign, a tree, and then a wooden fence, where it came to final rest and burst into flames. Speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in this crash, however those facts remain under investigation.
This is an active death investigation. At this time there is no further information to release.
ISP was assisted at the scene by DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, Auburn Police Department, Corunna Fire Department, DeKalb County Coroner’s office, Parkview EMS and Avilla Motor Works.
*All suspects named in this release are to be presumed innocent of any allegations. No criminal charges have been determined or filed yet in this investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the DeKalb County Prosecutor will have a full review and determination of charges to be filed if warranted.
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