By HOLLY GASKILL
A report from the Wells County Sheriff’s Department has identified Aiden Nunley, a 19-year-old from Bluffton, as the deceased in a head-on crash early Friday morning.
The other driver, Colton Norris, 23, Markle, was in critical condition and transported by Wells County EMS to Lutheran Hospital.
According to the crash report, at approximately 5:35 a.m. Nunley was driving a 2016 Jeep Patriot eastbound on State Road 116 near County Road 200 West in Rockcreek Township when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle crossed the center line and into the southeast lane. Norris, driving southwest in a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck, swerved to avoid a collision, but the Jeep swerved back into the northwest lane, and the vehicles collided head-on.
The investigating officer noted that the Jeep left a mark on the road traveling from the rumble strip in the eastbound lane across the lane to the point of impact in the other lane.
After impact, the pick-up truck pushed the Jeep into a utility pole and came to rest in the driveway of 2363 NW S.R. 116, Markle.
Nunley was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both vehicles were towed by Freeman’s. Damages were estimated as exceeding $50,000.
Norris submitted to a drug test at Lutheran Hospital, which is standard for fatal accidents, and results are pending.
holly@news-banner.com
