3 killed, 1 ‘seriously’ injured in Cass County crash

CASS COUNTY, Ind. — Deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash in Cass County Sunday evening that left three people dead and one injured.

On Sept. 21, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded around 5:53 p.m. to the area of State Road 29 and County Road 400 South after the Cass County Dispatch reported receiving multiple calls describing a serious “rollover” crash.

CCSO said preliminary information indicates a 2015 Nissan Sentra was heading westbound on County Road 400 South before it crossed over onto State Road 29. It was at that moment that deputies believe the Nissan crossed into the path of a 2020 GMC Sierra pickup truck as it was traveling southbound.

The driver of the Nissan Sentra, who deputies identified as 51-year-old John Stepek of Hammond, reportedly ignored a stop sign at State Road 29 moments before the crash with the GMC Sierra pickup truck occurred. This information was reportedly corroborated by a crash reconstruction team, which reported that the Nissan Sentra failed to yield to the GMC Sierra pickup truck before they both came to a halt to the southwest of the intersection.

CCSO confirmed that the driver and a passenger, identified as 54-year-old Jennifer Stepek, were pronounced dead on the scene after being extricated from the vehicle by firefighters. As first responders turned their attention to the GMC Sierra pickup truck, they determined that the two occupants also needed to be extricated from the heavily damaged vehicle.

The front-seat passenger in the pickup truck, who was identified as 78-year-old Elizabeth Wilcox of Logansport, was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver sustained “serious” injuries and was transported to Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis via helicopter.

The roadway was shut down to motorists for nearly three hours as investigators with the Logansport Police Department, Indiana State Police, Cass County Emergency Medical Services, the Walton Fire Department and Cass County Coroner’s Office assisted.

The deadly crash remains under investigation.