South Bend saw a quiet Wednesday night turn tragic when a woman was found dead in a parking lot on the city’s east side after what police describe as a crash that shook a small strip of businesses. Just after 7:30 p.m. police were called to the 3600 block of Edison Road where people reported seeing a woman lying unresponsive in the lot. First responders arrived quickly and found the woman, but she was already gone when they reached her.
Police have not released the identity of the victim yet. They are holding off on naming her until family members can be notified and investigators can confirm all details surrounding what happened that night. Friends, neighbors and workers at nearby businesses talked about hearing sirens and seeing flashing lights, but no one seems to know exactly how the crash unfolded or what led to the woman’s death.
After officers secured the scene, investigators from the St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team worked through the night gathering evidence. Their work centered on identifying the vehicle involved in the incident and determining what might have caused the crash. Several hours later they located the car believed tied to the case and made an arrest.
Police say 61‑year‑old Deborah Leyba was taken into custody without incident and transported to the St. Joseph County Jail. She is now waiting for formal charges to be filed by the county prosecutor as detectives continue to build their case and examine every piece of evidence they gathered. Authorities have been clear that Leyba is presumed innocent until a court says otherwise.
Community members expressed shock at the news, describing the area along Edison Road as usually calm in the evenings. Many said it was hard to reconcile the routine of dinner runs and errands with the sudden violence of a death in their midst. Some neighbors left flowers near the scene, dropped off by people who simply passed by and wanted to show sympathy for a life lost.
Police are asking anyone who might have seen something before, during or after the crash to contact them so they can fill in missing pieces of the story. Officials said that every bit of information helps bring clarity to a case that, for now, remains heavy with questions as the investigation moves forward.
