PIKE COUNTY, Ind. (February 16, 2016) – A Virginia man was charged in an accident in Pike County last week that killed three people, including a Fishers man.
According to court documents, Brian Paquette, 48, of Newport News, Virginia, is charged with 12 felony counts including three counts of resisting law enforcement in a vehicle causing death; three counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death; three counts of homicide; one count of involuntary manslaughter – OVWI causing death of fetus; one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury; and one count of possession of meth.
On Friday around 9:30 p.m., a motorist reported to police that a Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes. A trooper immediately located the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction, and the trooper drove into the median in an attempt to get the driver’s attention.
Paquette was the driver of the Tahoe; he entered the median and made a U-turn into the northbound lanes and proceeded south. The trooper then entered into the southbound lanes, still attempting to get the Paquette’s attention. Moments later Paquette struck two vehicles in the northbound lanes near the 49 mile marker.
Stephanie Molinet, 22, of Elberfeld, Indiana was driving her 2014 Ford Focus northbound in the passing lane when the two vehicles struck head-on.
The impact caused Paquette’s vehicle to rotate clockwise and into the path of a 2011 GMC Terrain that was traveling northbound in the driving lane. The driver of the GMC was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been identified as Jason Lowe, 44, of Fishers. The female passenger, identified as Samantha Lowe, 44, of Fishers, was taken to Deaconess Hospital where she is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Autumn Kapperman, 21, of Boonville, Indiana was a front seat passenger in Molinet’s vehicle. Kapperman was pronounced dead at the scene. She was also five-months pregnant.
Molinet was taken to Deaconess Hospital where she died early Saturday morning from her injuries.
Paquette was also transported to Deaconess Hospital where he is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
According to court documents, Paquette admitted to “smoking meth at a party in Oakland City” prior to the accident, and he thought he was being pursued by “farmers chasing him through a field” at the time of the crash.
Additionally, while Paquette was at the hospital, a nurse found a bag of white powdery substance on him that she turned over to police. The substance was later identified as meth.
