Two young women from Cincinnati were killed in a devastating head-on collision early Sunday morning on U.S. 52 near State Road 46 in northern Dearborn County.
According to the Indiana State Police, the crash happened around 3:30 a.m. Sunday on U.S. Route 52. Investigators say a 2020 Honda Civic traveling westbound attempted to pass another vehicle in a marked no-passing zone and remained in the opposite lane of travel.
While still in the oncoming lane, the Honda Civic collided head-on with an eastbound Volvo semi-truck pulling a box trailer. The force of the impact caused the semi-truck to come to a stop in the roadway, while the Honda Civic left the highway and went down an embankment.
The victims were identified as 21-year-old Kimora Manuel and 22-year-old Le’Marea Holmes, both of Cincinnati. Authorities confirmed both women were pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of the crash.
The driver of the Honda Civic, 23-year-old Kelis Manuel of Fairfield, Ohio, along with another rear-seat passenger, sustained life-threatening injuries and were transported to Cincinnati-area hospitals for emergency treatment. The semi-truck driver suffered minor injuries.
Investigators said alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, though toxicology results are still pending. Heavy rainfall at the time is also being considered as a possible contributing factor.
The crash remains under active investigation by the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team.
