Wrong-way driver charged with murder in accident that killed Coatesville man on U.S. 40

Cody Albert

DANVILLE -- A Hendricks County teenager accused of causing an accident last September that killed a former Greencastle man has been charged with murder.

Cody L. Albert, 19, of Danville, who authorities say caused the fatal accident by driving the wrong way down U.S. 40 west of Plainfield, is also facing a charge of operating while intoxicated resulting in death, the Hendricks County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

The Sept. 24 accident killed Thomas Bradley "Brad" Plasters, 51, Coatesville, a truck driver who was on his way to work at about 1 p.m. in his private car, a 2010 Honda Civic. Plasters was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thomas B. Plasters, 51, Coatesville, was fatally injured in a 1 p.m. accident Sept. 24, 2018 that police believe was intentionally caused by driver Cody Albert, 19, Danville.

Authorities immediately began investigating the accident as a possible homicide, and preliminary investigation indicated Albert may have intentionally driven the wrong way before striking Plasters' car head on.

Witnesses told police they observed a blue 2001 GMC Jimmy SUV driven by Albert going westbound in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 40 at a high rate of speed just prior to the crash at Hendricks County Road 0, near Cox's Plant Farm and the Clayton turnoff.

Following a homicide investigation, detectives arrested Albert on a warrant on Jan. 18.

He is being held at the Hendricks County Jail at Danville with no bond. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 25.

In news release issued immediately after the fatality, Hendricks Sheriff's Department Capt. Amanda Goings said the accident was being investigated as a potential homicide because of possible intent on Albert's part.

Albert was taken to an Indianapolis hospital with non-life threatening injuries following the crash.