Bloomington woke up to heartbreak early Sunday after a quiet home on East Anderson Road turned into a deadly fire scene. Two people were killed after a vehicle slammed into an attached garage and flames tore through the house in the 3800 block, leaving a family shattered and a community searching for answers.
Deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office rushed to the scene around 2:39 a.m. after reports of a residential fire. When first responders arrived, they found the garage fully engulfed. A vehicle had crashed straight into it, feeding the fire and trapping people inside the home.
One person managed to escape the burning house but suffered severe burns. Another individual at the scene gave early information to investigators. Both were taken to a local hospital and later transferred to Indianapolis for advanced burn treatment, as doctors fought to save their lives.
As firefighters searched the home, they discovered two more people inside. Despite rescue efforts, both later died from their injuries. The Monroe County Coroner’s Office has not released their names while next of kin are being notified.
While crews battled the flames, police began searching for a person believed to be responsible for starting the fire. About an hour later, officers from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Bloomington Police Department, and Indiana State Police found Braydon Blake hiding in a wooded area on the same property.
Blake was also suffering from burn injuries. He was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to Indianapolis for further treatment. Authorities have not yet announced formal charges as the investigation continues.
A source familiar with the victims told Channel2 NOW that the tragedy claimed the life of a grandmother and a disabled child who was under her care. The loss has left friends and neighbors stunned, struggling to understand how a single violent moment could erase two lives.
Investigators say the case remains active and ongoing. Officials have not released further details about what led up to the crash and fire, but they confirm the deaths were a direct result of the incident. For now, Bloomington is left mourning, waiting for clarity, and holding close the people it loves.
Photos: Emergency crews working the overnight fire scene on East Anderson Road; the burned remains of the attached garage struck by the vehicle; investigators and fire officials examining debris at dawn; police activity near the wooded area where Braydon Blake was located.
