A quiet stretch near Saint Meinrad, Indiana turned deadly Monday night when a two-vehicle crash claimed the life of 37-year-old Amber Gogel of Dale and left another woman seriously injured.
The crash happened around 8:20 p.m. along State Road 162, just north of State Road 62, in Spencer County.
Investigators say Gogel was driving an SUV northbound when, for reasons still not clear, her vehicle crossed the center line.
It slammed head-on into a southbound car driven by 40-year-old Amanda Kern.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Gogel was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kern survived the crash but suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Deaconess Memorial Medical Center for treatment, where she was later reported to be in stable condition.
Officials from the Indiana State Police say the investigation is still active, and they are working to understand what caused the SUV to drift across lanes.
The Spencer County Coroner’s Office has planned an autopsy for Gogel as part of standard procedure.
Trooper Levi Hupp is leading the investigation with help from the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Claus Police Department, and local EMS teams.
