Criminal charges have been filed in connection with the death of a 17-year-old from Seymour in a traffic accident a year ago, police report.
Caleb Patterson Cartmel, 22, of Westfield, who was being held in the Delaware County Jail in Muncie, also faces a charge of operating a motor vehicle while causing serious bodily injury or death, according to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
The charges against Cartmel stem from a yearlong investigation into an Oct. 18, 2015, accident east of Brownstown. Aaron M. Greathouse died when the 1987 Nissan he was driving east in the 2100 block of East County Road 25N was involved in an accident with a 2004 Nissan driven west by Cartmel, who was 21 at the time.
Lucas said the investigation showed that speed was a factor in the accident and that Cartmel tested positive for marijuana and was driving left of center at the time of the crash.
Cartmel and his younger brother, Ian T. Cartmel, both were flown to IU Health in Indianapolis. Greathouse was reportedly on his way to visit a girlfriend, while the Cartmels were in the area to visit relatives, police said at the time.
Greathouse was a student for two years at the Jackson County Learning Center, whose students are from Seymour High School.
Greathouse, who was born in Columbus, was the son of Albert Greathouse of Seymour and Katrina Adams of Columbus.
Caleb Cartmel will be brought to Brownstown, where he will be held in the Jackson County Jail pending his initial hearing, Lucas said.
Reckless homicide is a Level 5 felony punishable by one to six years in prison upon conviction.
