WABASH COUNTY, IN- On Sunday, April 19th, 2026, at approximately 3:48 p.m. the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle crash on State Road 13, north of County Road 1200 South in southern Wabash County.
The preliminary investigation shows that Linda Best, of Windfall, Indiana was operating Vehicle-1 and traveling northbound on SR13. For unknown reasons V1 ran off the east side of the roadway, returned to the northbound lane of travel, left the east side of the road a second time, traveled over a residential driveway, and finally came to rest after striking a tree with the front right and passenger side of V1.
Ms. Best and a juvenile passenger were initially entrapped in V1. Ms. Best and the juvenile were both eventually removed from the vehicle by responding fire personnel.
Ms. Best was transported to Parkview Hospital, Wabash, by ambulance, and was later flown to Lutheran Hospital, Ft. Wayne, by Parkview Samaritan 2.
The juvenile suffered critical injuries, and was flown to Riley Children’s Hospital, Indianapolis, by Lutheran Air. At approximately 3:00 a.m. on April 20th 2026 the juvenile was pronounced deceased at Riley Children’s Hospital.
This crash, and the causation factors that may have contributed, remain under investigation. There is no further information to release as this time.
Investigating Officers: Deputy Justin Crousore, Deputy Keanu Rish of the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office
Assisting Agencies: Indiana Conservation Office, Indiana State Police, Wabash City Fire Department, Converse Fire Department, Noble Township Fire Department, Wabash County EMA, Lutheran Air, Parkview Samaritan.
