05/31/2026
12 year old from New Albany killed in Jackson County crash
SEYMOUR IN- SOURCE WAVE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A 12-year-old boy from New Albany, Indiana was killed in a multi-vehicle crash Friday evening on Interstate 65 in Jackson County, according to authorities.
Officials said first responders were called around 5:21 p.m. May 30, 2026, to a crash near the 51-mile marker on I-65 southbound, where four vehicles were involved. Investigators said one occupant suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Jackson County Deputy Coroner Todd Brumfield.
The child was a rear-seat passenger in a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. Authorities said the other occupants — Keri Bethel, 37, of New Albany; Shanelle Bethel, 47, of Louisville; and driver Cortez Verner, 46, of Louisville — were airlifted to area hospitals for treatment.
A 2012 Mini Cooper driven by Ethyn Luther, 16, of Sellersburg, with Shannon Luther, 50, of Sellersburg, as a passenger, was also involved. Both were taken to Schneck Medical Center with minor injuries and later released. A 2023 International tractor-trailer driven by Thomas Long, 67, of Cleveland, Tennessee, and a 2021 Dodge pickup towing a camper driven by Julie Felix-Patrick, 52, of Melbourne, Florida, were involved; neither driver reported injuries.
Both directions of I-65 were shut down for an extended period as crews worked the scene. Indiana State Police crash reconstructionists are investigating. No additional details were released
