Cass County crash leaves 11-year-old injured; Kentucky man facing OWI charges

CASS COUNTY, Ind. — An 11-year-old sustained serious injuries in a crash in Cass County on Friday.

According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred at the intersection of U.S. Highway 24 and County Road 325 East around 11:40 p.m. A sheriff’s deputy in the area saw the crash happen and summoned additional first responders to the scene.

Police reported that the driver of a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser was attempting to turn off of eastbound U.S. Highway 24 onto County Road 325 East before the crash happened. The driver of the PT Cruiser entered the path of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado when making the turn.

A collision occurred after the PT Cruiser’s driver entered the path of the Silverado. The deputy who witnessed the crash had used radar technology to clock the Silverado’s speed at 85 mph before the crash occurred.

Firefighters extricated the PT Cruiser’s adult driver and 11-year-old passenger after the crash. The Cruiser’s driver and passenger were flown to Indianapolis hospitals with injuries the sheriff’s office described as “serious.”

The driver of the Silverado was transported to Parkview Hospital in Logansport via ambulance. The Silverado’s driver was later transferred to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne due to the serious nature of his injuries.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office indicated that the Silverado’s driver was released from Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. Upon his release, the Silverado’s driver — who the sheriff’s office identified as 35-year-old Michael Klish of Louisville, Kentucky — was incarcerated at the Cass County Detention Center.

CCSO reported that Klish faces the following preliminary charges:

• Causing injuries by operating a vehicle while intoxicated — a Level 5 Felony
• Reckless driving — a Class A Misdemeanor
• Dealing marijuana — a Class A Misdemeanor
• Possession of marijuana — a Class A Misdemeanor

Causing injuries by operating a vehicle while intoxicated is the most serious of the charges Klish faces. In Indiana, the maximum penalty for a Level 5 Felony, like causing injuries by operating a vehicle while intoxicated, is a six-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.

CCSO indicated that it is still investigating the crash. Deputies are encouraging those with information on the crash to contact the sheriff’s office at (574) 753-7800.