Sheriff's Department releases information on fatal multi-vehicle crash

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department has released some details of Saturday’s multi-vehicle crash that took the life of a six-year-old boy.

Just after 6 p.m. Saturday, a Ford Explorer driven by Robert Malone, age 59, of Shelbyville, was traveling east on State Road 44 and had stopped to turn north onto County Road 600 East. Also in the vehicle were 54-year-old Melanie Pryor, of Shelbyville, and her grandson, 6-year-old James Hodges, a first grader at Triton Central Elementary School in Fairland.

At that time, a Chevy Tahoe driven by Khristal Grant, age 43, from Indianapolis, also was traveling eastbound on State Road 44 and failed to slow or go around the Ford Explorer.

The Chevy Tahoe struck the Ford Explorer from behind, causing the Ford Explorer to cross into the westbound lane of State Road 44.

The Ford Explorer was then struck by a Chrysler Town and Country driven by Joshua Wainscott, age 27, of Arlington. The vehicle also contained four juvenile passengers.

Multiple injuries were reported with several subjects taken to area hospitals.

Hodges, the son of Chris Hodges and Kyndra Phelps, did not survive the accident.

No other fatalities from this accident have been reported. No charges have been filed as of Tuesday morning.

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