Crash near Sharkey Curve claims life of 14-year-old Solsberry girl; Driver in custody

A tragic crash involving only one vehicle early Tuesday claimed the life of a 14-year-old Solsberry girl. An 18-year-old Worthington woman was injured. Both were passengers in a maroon 2000 Ford F-350 pick-up truck when the crash occurred. The 24-year-old male driver fled the scene but has since been taken into custody and is currently incarcerated in the Greene County Jail.

Joshua "Josh" Paul Wells of Springville is believed to have been driving the truck eastbound on State Road 54 just west of the Sharkey Curve when the truck left the roadway and came to rest on its side. The Sharkey Curve is located east of Bloomfield.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:34 a.m. Tuesday.

Following the crash that left one of his passengers injured and one deceased, Wells allegedly left the scene and by mid-morning Tuesday, a press release was issued by the Bloomington Post of the Indiana State Police asking for the public's help in locating Wells. Around 11 a.m., they reported Wells had been located and was in custody.

The injured passenger was Shelsey Proctor, 18, from Worthington.

The name of the deceased passenger, a juvenile, was not released by the Greene County Sheriff's Department. However, the victim's name was acknowledged by Eastern Greene Schools on their Facebook page when they posted early Tuesday, "... we are saddened by the news of a tragic car accident involving one of our students early this morning...prayers and positive thoughts to the family of Bailey Miller...our hearts hurt this morning."

The Greene County Sheriff's Department is leading an ongoing investigation into the crash.

The lead investigating officers, GCSD Detective Jim O'Malley and Deputy Jeff Brown, were assisted in the initial investigation Tuesday morning by GCSD Maj. George Dallaire and Sgt. Bobby Pierce.

In addition to sheriff's deputies, personnel from the Greene County Ambulance Service, the Richland Township Fire Department, the Center Township Fire Department and the Indiana State Police assisted on the scene and in the subsequent search for the driver.

According to Indiana State Police, Wells was wanted in another county at the time of the crash, with an active warrant out for his arrest in Lawrence County for alleged failure to appear in court in a case involving operating a vehicle while intoxicated.