Published: July 23, 2008 08:21 pm            

Alcohol, high speed factors in crash

This is Howard County’s third fatal in five days

A Kokomo man was killed instantly in a high-speed, single-car crash early Wednesday, marking the third fatal in Howard County since Saturday.

Police believe Mark A. Likens, 30, Kokomo, was traveling eastbound on 100 North, near 1250 East about 4:15 a.m. He was traveling about 95 mph when he lost control of his car and hit a utility pole.

Likens, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had a blood-alcohol content of .21, more than half the legal limit of .08, Howard County Sheriff Marty Talbert said. The impact sheared the pole in two.

An investigation showed the wrecked car’s speedometer was stuck on 103 mph, Talbert said.

Likens was wearing a seat belt, but the pole impacted broadside into the driver’s door.

Greentown firefighters had to extricate Likens from his brown 1999 Pontiac Bonneville four-door car.

“High speed was a definite factor in this crash,” Talbert said. “The impact with the utility pole cut nearly halfway through the car.”

Talbert said initially authorities had a difficult time notifying Likens’ next of kin, as Likens’ driver’s license and vehicle showed a former address that was more than a year old, Talbert said.

Indiana State Police Master Trooper Earl McCullough, an accident reconstructionist, assisted with the investigation.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Howard County Emergency Management Agency, and crews from Duke Energy. This is the third fatal crash investigated by the Sheriff Department since Saturday afternoon.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Deputy Jordan Buckley at the Howard County Sheriff Department at (765) 457-1105.

Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com

        

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