Articles

PRESS RELEASE

OCTOBER 11, 2018

On Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 at approximately 1:10 PM, the Jasper County Sheriffs’ 911 Center received a report of a traffic crash between a passenger car and semi at the intersection of U. S. 231 and S.R. 16.

Within minutes of the initial report a second call indicated that the semi involved had fled the scene travelling westbound on S.R. 16 and that the lone occupant/driver of the passenger car was trapped within the vehicle after having gone underneath the semi-trailer.

Upon arrival of fire rescue and law enforcement, the investigation revealed the following information.  A white day cab semi with a white box trailer failed to stop for the posted intersection as the semi was travelling westbound on S.R. 16 at US 231.  As the semi entered the intersection, a northbound red 2005 Chevy passenger car being operated by Melissa Deno, age 40 of Rensselaer, Indiana drove under the semi-trailer shearing the roof off of the Deno vehicle. 

Paramedics and fire rescue units attended to Mrs. Deno at the scene however due to the seriousness of her injuries, she was unresponsive and pronounced dead by medical personnel.

Several law enforcement officers from multiple agencies conducted a search for the semi tractor-trailer which had fled the scene which met with negative results. 

Jasper County Sheriffs’ Office has posted a photo of the semi-tractor trailer that was captured by local security camera on the Sheriffs’ face-book site.  We are asking for the publics’ assistance in locating this vehicle which should have red paint transfer on the driver’s side of the trailer between the dollies and rear trailer axels. 

Assisting at the scene were units from Rensselaer Fire Department, Remington Fire Department, Remington Police Department, Prompt Paramedics, and the Jasper County Coroner’s Office.

The investigation continues by the Jasper County Sheriffs’ Office.

Sheriff Terry J. Risner