Driver facing charges in wreck that killed 3-year-old

A Seymour woman is facing charges in the October crash that killed a 3-year-old boy.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, 45-year-old Lisa Ely was driving an SUV on at about 8:15 p.m. on October 28th when her vehicle left the road, struck a culvert sending it airborne before crashing into a tree on the west side of the road. 3-year-old Thomas Ely was a passenger in the vehicle and killed in the crash. Ely along with a 7-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy were seriously injured in the crash and taken to Indianapolis hospitals for treatment.

An investigation revealed that Ely was driving drunk at the time of the crash. There were also no child restraints or car seats in use at the time of the crash. The results of the investigation were presented to the Jennings County Prosecutor’s Office and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

She was arrested Monday without incident and is facing felony charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and causing serious bodily injury when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.