By Erin Gladieux – 21Alive
By Jen Danczak – 21Alive
February 21, 2016
Updated Feb 21, 2016 at 3:54 PM EST
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GRANT COUNTY, Ind. (21Alive) – Three are confirmed dead at this time after a car accident on I-69. It was just after 6 this morning that police got reports of a car crash. It happened in the north bound lane around mile marker 253.
The Grant County Coroner’s office has confirmed it was a triple fatality.
One person is in the hospital in Fort Wayne in critical condition.
Manchester University posted on their Facebook page that they will release a statement as soon as possible.
UPDATE: Preliminary investigation shows a passenger van was broken down with what appeared to be a flat front driver’s side tire. The van was partially off of the roadway towards the median. The 7 occupants of the vehicle were outside of the vehicle, three to the rear area of the vehicle and four along the driver’s side area of the vehicle. Another passenger van was Northbound on 1-69, South of the broken down vehicle, that vehicle left the roadway into the median and struck four of the occupants. Speed of the vehicle at the time of impact could not be determined however the posted speed limit for the roadway is 70 m.p.h.
Three of the occupants died at the scene and the forth was flown to Parkview Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne Indiana from the crash site.
Latest report on the subject flown from the scene was that he underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition. The driver of the other vehicle was transported to Marion General Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
The three international Manchester University students that were killed are Nerad Grace Mangai, Brook M. Dagnew and Kirubel Alemayehu Hailu.
Brook “BK” Dagnew, a first year biology-chemistry major with a minor in business, serves as secretary for Model United Nations, is director of membership for the Manchester University International Association and will be the treasurer for Asian Awareness Association during the next academic year. From Ethiopia, he is one of the first, first-year international students to be a resident assistant. He also works as a student technician for Cordier.
The 4th student is in critical condition, Israel Solomon Tamire.
The students are from Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Three other students were in the vehicle and were not injured.
The students were northbound on I-69 heading back to Manchester after visiting Ball State and Taylor Universities, when they got a flat tire and were changing it when they were struck by another vehicle.
The Driver of the vehicle that struck the passengers was Deangelo R. Evans 26 years old and has was charged with; 3-Counts of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death, 1 Count of Operating While Intoxicated Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and 3 Counts of Reckless Homicide, bond was set at $300,000.00 and he is being held in the Grant County Jail.
A gathering is planned for 8PM tonight at the Petersime Chapel on campus.
