A Jasper man who was the driver of a pickup truck that crashed into a disabled vehicle along Interstate 69 last Sunday morning has turned himself in to authorities. The accident resulted in the deaths of three members of a Newburgh family. Greene County authorities reported that Mason Hartke, 19 of Jasper turned himself in early Saturday morning after a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
Indiana State Police released information stating that 19-year old Hartke is facing six Level 5 felonies with three counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level greater than 0.08 percent causing death and three counts of reckless homicide. All six charges were filed by the Greene County prosecutor’s office. Hartke’s bond is set at $60,000.
Around 4 am last Sunday troopers with Bloomington Post were dispatched to a car-deer crash that had occurred on I-69 near the 103-mile marker.
When the first trooper arrived he observed a large amount of debris in the roadway as well as a passenger car and an inverted pickup truck near the earthen embankment on the west side of the interstate.
An investigation of the crash by police found that a 2015 Honda Civic, driven by 46-year old David Rinehart of Newburgh was traveling southbound on I-69 and had struck a deer causing the Honda to pull onto the outside shoulder and come to a stop.
Police say afterward, a 2006 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck driven Hartke was traveling southbound on I-69 approaching Rinehart’s location when, for unknown reasons, Hartkey’s truck left the southbound lanes of traffic and entered the outside shoulder, striking the parked Honda.
The crash resulted in the deaths of David Rinehart along with his mother, 74-year old Ruth Rinehart and daughter, 17-year old Sophie Rinehart all of Newburgh from injuries sustained in the accident.
Another passenger in David Rinehart’s car, 18-year old Josie Rinehart also of Newburgh, suffered cuts and abrasions and was transported to IU Health Bloomington.
Mason Hartkey also was taken to IU Health to be treated for a fractured arm.
