HAMILTON, IN - The Steuben County Sheriff's Office is investigating a vehicle crash involving multiple injured occupants including several children.

On Friday night (01/06/2023), just after 6:30 PM, Steuben County Sheriff's 911 received a call reporting a 2-vehicle crash that occurred at the intersection of Railroad St and Homestead Dr in the Town of Hamilton on the Steuben County side.

The 911 caller reported multiple people were injured including several children. When initial responding Sheriff's deputies and first responders arrived, they found a pickup truck and a minivan in the middle of the roadway along with as many as 7 injured crash victims that included 5 children.

Sheriff's deputies assisted medics and fire personnel with removing the victims from the vehicles and assessing their injuries. Once that was completed, Sheriff's deputies began a crash scene investigation.

The initial crash investigation determined that a blue 2015 Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling eastbound on CR 800 S approaching the town limits of Hamilton at the intersection of Homestead Dr driven by 34 year old Joshua J. Anderson of rural Hamilton, IN.

The other vehicle involved, a black 2017 Kia Sedona minivan driven by 39 year old Bianca R. Hales also of rural Hamilton, was traveling westbound on Railroad St approaching the intersection of Homestead Dr.

Crash scene evidence indicated that the Anderson vehicle was almost completely left of the center line into the westbound lane of travel as it crossed eastbound into the intersection causing both vehicles to collide nearly head on at the intersection of Railroad St (CR 800 S) and Homestead Dr.

Anderson did indicate that he was attempting to make a left hand turn onto Homestead Dr just prior to the crash. The impact caused the Hale vehicle to continue in a northwesterly direction past the intersection and come to rest on the north side of the roadway.

The impact also caused the Anderson vehicle to rotate counterclockwise on its axis while being forced back westbound and came to rest facing westbound in the middle of the westbound lane just west of the intersection.

Anderson complained of pain in his chest, back, and head. Anderson's passenger identified as 7 year old Noah Anderson of rural Hamilton also complained of pain to his chest, back, and head as a result of the crash. The elder Anderson was transported to Parkview Regional Hospital in serious condition by EMS personnel. The younger Anderson was treated and released at the scene.

There were five occupants in Hale's vehicle all sustained serious injuries in the crash, and were also transported to Parkview Regional Medical Center by EMS personnel. The driver, Bianca sustained severe injuries to her neck and back, and complained of leg pain.

The following were all passengers in the Hale vehicle.

17 year old Dominick Landis of rural Hamilton, IN sustained a severe back injury and complained of neck pain.

13 year old Anthony Brown of rural Hamilton, IN sustained a possible broken leg

5 year old Davion Temich of rural Hamilton, IN sustained a possible broken leg

9 year old Gigi Brown of rural Hamilton, IN sustained a possible broken leg

Seatbelts were in use in both vehicles and airbags did deploy. The weather was clear and the roadway surface was dry at the time of the crash.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash at this time. The crash still remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office

Assisting the Sheriff's Office at the scene were Hamilton Police, Hamilton Fire Rescue, Ashley Fire Rescue, Parkview EMS, and Steuben County EMS.

**Any criminal charge is merely an accusation. The Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.**