Muncie teen killed in Hancock County car-semi crash

A man was killed when his vehicle collided head-on with a tractor-trailer.

Around 6:30 a.m Tuesday, members of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office were called to the area of US 52 and County Road 300 West for a report of a possible crash from an iPhone crash detection alert.

Deputies, Indiana State Police, and New Palestine Police officers located the crash around 3500 West US 52, just east of New Palestine. The crash involved a 2022 Kia K5 passenger car and a 2026 Freightliner semi tractor pulling a loaded trailer. Both vehicles were in a field, off the roadway, with severe damage.

Personnel on scene quickly realized the driver of the Kia was in extremely critical condition and requested the Hancock County Fatal Accident Crash Team (F.A.C.T.) to respond. Despite life-saving efforts, the driver and only occupant of the Kia, Trent Keller, 19, of Muncie, was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured. He holds a valid CDL, had dash camera video of the crash, and cooperated with the investigation before being released. Although drugs and alcohol are not expected factors, the driver submitted to a blood draw as part of routine procedure investigating a fatal crash.

All evidence indicates the tractor-trailer was traveling eastbound on US 52. The Kia was traveling westbound. As the vehicles approached each other, for an unknown reason the Kia traveled left of the center line and entered the eastbound lane of travel, crashing head-on into the tractor-trailer. The investigation is ongoing.

The roadway was closed for about three hours while the multi-agency Hancock County Fatal Accident Crash Team investigated. Indiana State Police, New Palestine Police Department, the Hancock County Coroner’s Office, Hancock County 911 Center, and Sugar Creek Township Fire Department also assisted in this incident.