LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A driver who's believed to have crashed during the early morning hours Saturday was found dead at around 10 a.m. near the crash scene in far eastern Tippecanoe County.
Investigators say at around 10 a.m. someone called 911 to report a vehicle in the ravine on the east side of County Road 900 East, about two miles north of the intersection with Base Line Road near Wildcat Creek.
First responders arrived in the area and found a white 2015 Chevrolet Malibu that was upside down at the bottom of the ravine. They also found the driver, who had died, outside the car.
Investigators believe the crash happened overnight, some time after 12:30 a.m.
The Tippecanoe County Crash Reconstruction Team and the Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office are helping investigate. The road was closed for about five hours while they tried to determine what caused the crash.
The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office said investigators believe the man was driving south on County Road 900 E and then swerved and slid off the east side of the road. The vehicle went into a wooded ravine, striking several trees before coming to a rest.
According to the sheriff's office, the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. Speed is believed to be a contributing factor. Toxicology results are currently pending.
The driver has not been identified. Authorities say the Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office will release the name of the driver when their investigation is complete.
Anyone with further information about the crash is being asked to contact the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office at 765-423-9388.
