Bedford, IN (July 25, 2026) – A man died, and a woman was left in critical condition after a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Road 37 and 29th Street, according to the Bedford Police Department.
Officer Landon Jones responded to the crash on the afternoon of July 25 after reports of a severe traffic accident. He found a blue 2022 Kia Forte with heavy rear-end damage in the middle of the intersection, a black 2000 Chevrolet Silverado with heavy front-end damage south of the left turn lane, and a gray 2021 Honda Accord on the west shoulder.
Inside the Kia, officers found two occupants. The passenger, identified as Randy C. Tarr, was unresponsive and bleeding. Emergency medical services pronounced him dead at the scene, and he was taken into the care of Lawrence County Coroner Elizabeth Freeman.
The driver of the Kia, Timber R. Tarr, was found unconscious with agonal breathing. Bedford Fire Department personnel extracted her from the vehicle, and IU Health EMS transported her to IU Health Bloomington for a brain bleed and additional injuries. She remains in critical condition.
According to witness accounts, the Honda Accord, driven by Kanitta Sodachan, was stopped at a red light at the intersection when the rear-end collision occurred. Sodachan suffered minor injuries. The driver of the Silverado, Carey T. Christie, told Major Swanson he was traveling south on State Road 37 and did not notice stopped traffic ahead because of sun glare. Christie was treated for pain and bleeding around his nose at IU Health Bedford.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
What to Do After a Fatal Car Accident in Indiana
Who may be liable for this crash? Christie’s own statement, that he did not see stopped traffic ahead of him because of sun glare, points directly at a failure to keep a safe following distance and stay alert to road conditions. Sun glare is a known hazard, not an excuse. Indiana law expects drivers to adjust for it, not drive through it.
What can a wrongful death claim cover for the Tarr family? Indiana law allows recovery for funeral and burial costs, lost income and support Randy Tarr would have provided, medical expenses connected to the crash, and the loss of his care and companionship.
Can Timber Tarr pursue her own claim? Yes. A brain injury and extended hospital care are compensable on their own, separate from the family’s wrongful death claim. Both claims typically move against the same driver and insurance policy.
What is the filing deadline? Wrongful death claims in Indiana must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (IC 34-23-1-1). Randy Tarr died on July 25, 2026, so that deadline falls on July 25, 2028. Timber Tarr’s personal injury claim runs on the same two-year clock (IC 34-11-2-4), with an identical deadline.
Contact Our Indiana Car Accident Attorneys
Losing a family member in a crash that should have been avoidable, while another family member fights to recover from a brain injury, is a weight no one should carry without support.
Steven L. Langer and the team at Langer & Langer have represented Indiana families for more than 45 years in cases where a driver’s own account, like a failure to notice stopped traffic, becomes the foundation of the claim. Our Indiana auto accident attorney team works alongside our Indiana wrongful death lawyers when a single crash produces both a death and a serious injury.
Traffic camera footage, the Silverado’s event data recorder, and the responding officers’ full report are all worth securing now, before that information ages out of retention.
There is no upfront cost to speak with our office, and no fee unless we recover for your family.
Why Indiana families trust Langer & Langer:
- Founded in 1980, over 45 years serving Indiana families
- 100+ years of combined legal experience
- Recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, American College of Trial Lawyers
