An Ohio woman faces felony charges arising from a June 14, 2026 crash on Harrison Brookville Road (US 52) in West Harrison that killed two people and seriously injured a third. Eagle Country 99.3 reported the charges[1] on October 8, 2026. WRBI Radio also reported on the crash and charges, and the investigation remains ongoing.
What Eagle Country reported
According to Eagle Country, Kelis Manuel, 23, of Fairfield, Ohio, was driving a Honda Civic that collided with a semi while passing another vehicle, according to a probable cause affidavit. Two passengers, Kimora Manuel, 21, and Le'Marea Holmes, 22, died. A third passenger, 20, was seriously injured.
Eagle Country reported that the Indiana State Police investigation led to two counts of operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more causing death and two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, all Level 4 felonies. The reported charges also include OWI causing serious bodily injury as a Level 5 felony, OWI endangerment, and operating with a controlled substance.
Eagle Country did not state whether Manuel had been arrested. Every charge is an accusation, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What families and survivors can do next
Medical care, funeral arrangements, and insurance calls can arrive at the same time after a fatal crash. You can begin by requesting the Indiana State Police crash report, keeping the case number, and organizing medical records, bills, and funeral expenses. The firm's guide to obtaining an Indiana crash report explains the general records process.
The criminal court file may also become an important record. A criminal prosecution and a civil claim are separate, so civil deadlines continue to run while the criminal case proceeds. Families can review general information about Indiana wrongful death claims, while people hurt in a commercial-vehicle collision can learn how a truck accident claim may involve additional evidence and insurance issues.
Why location and insurance coverage matter
The crash happened on US 52 in West Harrison, Dearborn County, and Indiana State Police investigated. A civil case would ordinarily be filed in Dearborn County or where a defendant lives. When a driver lives outside Indiana, additional questions about jurisdiction and filing location can arise.
Indiana's wrongful death statutes, Ind. Code 34-23-1-1 and 34-23-1-2, govern claims after a death. The general two-year deadline for injury claims appears in Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. Waiting for the criminal case to end does not stop that deadline.
Indiana's minimum liability limits under Ind. Code 9-25-4-5 are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury. Those limits may be inadequate when one crash involves multiple deaths or injuries. Depending on the policy, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2 may apply to passengers or family members. You can read more about uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.
Indiana's modified comparative fault rule, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, governs how responsibility is divided. An injured person whose fault is greater than 50 percent cannot recover under that rule. Otherwise, the recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault. Criminal charges can be important evidence, but they do not automatically decide every issue in a civil case.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps Indiana families and crash survivors understand wrongful death and injury claims, available insurance coverage, evidence preservation, and filing deadlines. Insurance companies may aggressively defend fault and coverage questions, especially when several claims may compete for limited policy proceeds.
If you want to discuss the facts privately, you can request a free case evaluation. No outcome can be promised in any case.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
Update: Semi Driver Identified, October 11, 2026
WRBI Radio identified the semi driver[2] as Jimmy Davis, 49, of Cincinnati, and reported that he had minor injuries.
WRBI also reported that the Honda Civic was passing in a no-passing zone before the collision, that the 20-year-old passenger suffered two broken femurs, and that the charges were filed in Dearborn Superior Court I.
The investigation may still be ongoing.
Update: $5 Million Cash Bond Set, October 16, 2026
Eagle Country 99.3 reported[3] that bond was set at $5 million cash at an initial hearing on October 14, 2026.
The outlet also reported that a probable cause affidavit cited medical records showing a blood alcohol level of .253 and a positive THC test. The charges remain allegations, and Manuel is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The original facts above remain accurate, and the case may still be ongoing.
