STEUBEN COUNTY, IN (WTVB) – The Steuben County Sheriff’s Department and first responders were dispatched to the 6500 block of North CR 450 West in rural Jackson Township just after 10:30 p.m. Friday evening following reports of a single-vehicle crash with injuries.
Upon arrival, crews from Steuben County EMS located two crash victims with obvious injuries and immediately began treatment.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a black 2017 Ram 2500 pickup truck, driven by 30-year-old Tayler J. Lorenz of Jonesville, Michigan, was traveling southbound on CR 450 W from State Road 120 at a high rate of speed. As the vehicle approached a 90-degree curve, Lorenz allegedly failed to negotiate the turn, causing the truck to leave the roadway and collide with several trees.
Airbags deployed during the impact, and conditions at the time were clear with dry.
Lorenz fled the scene on foot, taking with him two small children—3-year-old Nos J. Lorenz and 6-year-old Nicolette M. Lorenz—while abandoning the two other occupants.
The victims left behind were identified as 4-year-old Natalie Lorenz and 16-year-old Kalon Gundrum, both of whom were transported by Steuben County EMS to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne in critical condition.
An extensive search involving the Sheriff’s Office drones and K9 units, along with assistance from the Fremont Fire Department and Orland Fire Department, was launched to locate the missing children.
The two young children were later discovered to have been dropped off at a family-known residence in Hillsdale County, Michigan, where they were found to have sustained only minor cuts and bruising from the crash.
Lorenz eventually turned himself in at the Branch County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office around 10:00 a.m. on July 18 and was interviewed by investigators.
It’s unclear at this time how Lorentz traveled from the crash scene in Steuben County and then ultimately to the Branch County Jail.
The crash remains under active investigation by the Steuben and once completed will be forwarded to the Steuben County Prosecutor for review of potential criminal charges.
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