INDIANAPOLIS — Court documents state that a man has now been criminally charged after a woman was pronounced dead and her 11-year-old son suffered internal injuries on Feb. 23 following a crash at the intersection of East 21st Street and North Irwin Street.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded around 8:25 a.m. to a crash at the intersection. Upon arrival, they found two vehicles involved in a collision, one of which was a woman suffering serious injuries, court documents said.
On-scene paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene. Her 11-year-old child also sustained internal injuries and was transferred to an area hospital in good condition.
IMPD identified the second vehicle's driver as Thomas Sippel. According to court documents, Sippel suffered a compound fracture to his leg and was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.
Sippel was traveling at 82 mph in a 30 mph zone, court documents said. A toxicology report also found methamphetamine, benzoylecgonine and cocaine in his system.
Sippel is facing three felony charges.
- Causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a level four felony.
- Causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a Schedule I or Schedule II substance, a level four felony.
- Reckless homicide, a level five felony.
If convicted, Sippel could face two to 12 years in prison.