Victims identified in U.S. 40 fatal crash

Two people died in an auto accident on U.S. 40 in eastern Putnam County late Saturday night.

At 10:50 p.m., Putnam County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area of Well Spring Church in regard to a single-vehicle crash off the north side of the road.

Deputy Robert Soilleux reported that a 2004 Lexus E330 registered to Barbara Jean Martin was westbound approaching County Road 725 East when it ran off into the median.

When the vehicle came back onto the roadway the driver apparently lost control, causing it to skid sideways and leave the north side of the road, where the driver’s side slammed into a tree.

Both the driver, Randall Keith Martin, 53, Indianapolis, and the front seat passenger, Debbie Lynn Epperly, 64, Homosassa, Fla., were declared dead at the scene.

Indiana State Trooper Jordon Hall, an accident reconstructionist, was called to the scene to assist with the investigation.