May trial set in reckless homicide case

MUNCIE – A teenager will stand trial in May on charges he caused a fatal traffic accident that killed two Muncie sisters.

Ethan N. Lee, 19, was indicted Jan. 15 by a Vermillion County grand jury on three counts of reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony carrying a maximum six-year prison term.

Authorities allege Lee, of Cayuga, was driving recklessly when his pickup truck crashed into a building in that western Indiana town on Jan. 2, 2015.

The accident killed three passengers in the vehicle – sisters Annie Clark, 18, and Caroline Clark, 16, both Cowan Junior-Senior High School students, and 18-year-old Braeden Hollowell of Cayuga.

According to court documents, Lee might have been driving as fast as 87 mph – in a 25 mph zone – when he lost control of his truck, which struck an embankment and became airborne before crashing into an office at Colonial Brick Corp.

Lee is also charged with criminal mischief, reckless driving and false informing. The latter charge alleges he tried to persuade a state trooper he was traveling at 45 mph at the time of the crash.

In Vermillion Circuit Court on Monday, Judge Bruce Stengel entered not-guilty pleas on Lee’s behalf, and set trial for May 17. The court is in the town of Newport, about 30 miles north of Terre Haute.

Lee was released from the Vermillion County jail the day he was indicted after posting a $15,000 bond.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.