North Vernon, IN—Early Tuesday morning, the Indiana State Police, North Vernon Police Department, and Jennings County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle crash just north of North Vernon that claimed the life of an Osgood man.
The initial investigation by ISP indicated that a maroon Ford Taurus being driven by Justin M. Rangel, 26, Osgood, was traveling eastbound on the US 50 Bypass, just east of State Road 3. For an unknown reason, Rangel’s vehicle crossed the centerline into the path of a westbound 2013 Mack truck pulling a loaded trailer, being driven by Todd E. Lennartz, 49, Fort Recovery, Ohio. US 50 was closed just east of State Road 3 for nearly four hours for crash investigation and cleanup.
The vehicles collided nearly head-on in the westbound lane of US 50. Both vehicles then skidded into the eastbound lane where they came to a stop. Rangel sustained fatal injuries in the crash. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s Office. Lennartz was transported to St. Vincent-Jennings Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Toxicology results on both drivers are pending at this time. The investigation is ongoing.
