Benton County, IN (August 12, 2026) – A rear-end crash in a highway construction zone killed a Wolcott woman and left her passenger hospitalized Wednesday morning, according to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff John Cox said the Benton County 911 Center received the report at 9:48 a.m. on the morning of August 12 for a two-vehicle crash on State Road 18 at County Road 1200 East, inside an INDOT construction zone.
A preliminary investigation indicated that a 2006 Toyota Scion driven by Kacy J. Cunningham, 43, of Wolcott, was stopped in the westbound lane for an INDOT flagger when it was struck from behind by a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Jacob A. Morris, 39, of Peru.
First responders found Cunningham not breathing. She was declared deceased at the scene.
Cunningham’s passenger, Nathan P. Christner, 40, of Wolcott, was found unconscious and transported to a hospital with injuries that were not immediately known. Morris was checked by paramedics at the scene but refused treatment.
The Indiana State Police crash reconstruction team responded, and State Road 18 was closed for a little over two hours during the investigation.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Wrongful Death Claims After a Fatal Car Accident in Indiana
Drivers approaching a highway work zone are required to slow down and be ready to stop for flaggers and stopped traffic. A driver who rear-ends a vehicle that is properly stopped for road work can be held liable for the resulting injuries and death.
- Request the full crash reconstruction report once the Indiana State Police complete their investigation
- Ask INDOT and the construction contractor for the work zone’s traffic control plan and any prior complaints about the site
- Do not speak with the other driver’s insurance company before consulting an attorney
- Get a second medical opinion for the surviving passenger before accepting any characterization of his injuries
Wrongful death claims in Indiana generally must be filed within two years of the date of death (IC 34-23-1-1), which would set the deadline at August 12, 2028 for this crash. The surviving passenger’s own injury claim would fall under Indiana’s separate two-year personal injury deadline (IC 34-11-2-4).
Contact Our Indiana Car Accident Attorneys
Losing a mother, wife, or friend in a crash that should have been avoidable leaves a family with grief that a phone call cannot fix, but it can start answering the questions that come next.
Langer & Langer has served Indiana families for more than 45 years, and our Indiana car accident attorney team understands how work zone crashes are investigated and who else may share responsibility.
Work zone records, traffic control plans, and the reconstruction report are easiest to obtain now, before the site changes and memories fade.
We take these cases on contingency, so your family owes nothing upfront and nothing unless we recover on your behalf.
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
