Teen driver faces charges in fatal crash
Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter announced Monday that he has filed charges against a Brazil teenager for his role in the deadly car crash that took the life of his girlfriend on the county line a little more than a week ago.
Eighteen-year-old Cody D. Wright is charged with resisting law enforcement, resulting in death and criminal recklessness, resulting in death, following the Nov. 17 car crash on CR 900 West that killed 17-year-old Brandee N. Siples, also of Brazil.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Indiana State Police officers witnessed Wright speeding down U.S. 40 near Putnamville at an estimated 117 mph shortly before 11 a.m.
The officers gave chase and Wright is said to have increased his speed to approximately 129 mph before turning onto CR 900 West, at the Putnam-Clay county line. A short time later, Wright's 1992 Chevrolet Camaro became airborne, striking a tree and landing in a ravine.
The impact killed Siples, however, Wright was treated and released from the hospital the following day.
If convicted, Wright faces a maximum of 28 years in prison or a minimum of eight years. These were the most serious crimes that could have been filed outside of murder, Bookwalter said.