The pair were reported as missing Sunday and a search began. Troopers found 39-year-old Kevin Bell on Tuesday evening.
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Indiana State Police say 37-year-old Nikki K. Reed died instantly when the vehicle crashed Saturday afternoon near the Jennings-Ripley County line in southeast Indiana. Officers arrived to find Bell, suffering from serious injuries to his legs and lower extremities, had crawled to the side of the road from the scene of a crash past the embankment below. Bell’s family told police they hadn’t heard from him since Saturday.
Police say at some point Saturday afternoon, Bell lost control of the 1999 Ford Explorer he was driving and ran off the road in the 8600 block of east USA 50.
Police found Nikki K. Reed, 37, Seymour, inside the SUV, which was well off the roadway and not visible from the road.
At some point in the afternoon, Bell was behind the wheel of a 1999 Ford Explorer and ran off the road in the 8600 block of USA 50, police said. The vehicle traveled down an embankment and struck a tree head-on.
“At this time, it appears that Reed, who was in the front passenger seat, sustained fatal injuries in the crash and died instantly”, said an ISP statement.
For three days, officials said Bell was unable to move from the SUV. Because of injuries Bell suffered to his legs, he couldn’t get out of the vehicle and crawl back to the road to get help until Tuesday.
Bell’s injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Bell was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.
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The investigation is ongoing.
