Teen killed, three others hurt in Steuben County crash

STEUBEN COUNTY, Ind. (WPTA) - Rescuers pulled four people from the mangled remains of an SUV Wednesday after a car crash west of Angola.

Chief Deputy Mike Meeks said the driver of the SUV, 18-year-old Lucas Corner of Fremont, failed to stop at the intersection of S.R. 327 and C.R. 250 South. The semi-truck could not avoid the crash and hit the SUV broadside, sending it careening into a field.

Corner was critically hurt as were passengers Hayden Pelletier, 18, and Evander Pelletier, 16, both of Fremont. Another passenger, 16-year-old Nitika Smith of LaGrange, was killed.

Police said Thursday afternoon that three of the four teens were wearing seatbelts including Smith. Investigators initially said there was no indication seatbelts were used.

The driver of the semi-truck was not hurt.

The crash closed the road for hours as police documented the scene and crews cleaned up the wreckage.

This story was updated early Thursday afternoon to reflect police findings on seatbelt use.