On Friday, Nov. 14, an Indiana National Guard convoy driving south on I-65 in Boone County was struck by tragedy: Specialist Terry Frye of Lafayette was killed and three fellow Guardsmen were left seriously injured.
Frye, just 23 years old, had been serving in the Indiana National Guard since March 2020 with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment. Over his five years, he earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon — honors that reflected his commitment and discipline. The convoy was traveling from the Frankfort Armory to Camp Atterbury for a weekend drill when the crash occurred.
According to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the accident involved three vehicles: a military Humvee, a white SUV, and a car-hauler truck. The Humvee without a trailer apparently rolled, ejecting its four occupants. First responders pronounced Spc. Frye dead at the scene, while the other three soldiers were rushed to nearby hospitals with serious injuries.
In a detailed update, investigators identified the Humvee’s driver as 21-year-old Izaya Phillips, with Frye and two other soldiers — Nicholas Reinhart, 27, and Luke Richardson, 23 — as passengers. The civilian drivers in the crash were also identified: the SUV was driven by 51-year-old Veronica Webster of Independence, Kentucky, and the car-hauler by 56-year-old Goderdzi Gujabidze of Brooklyn, New York.
Local authorities say that Gujabidze was taken into custody after the crash. Boone County police reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a hold on him following the collision, prompting his detention at the sheriff’s office, where translators were later brought in. As of now, the full cause of the crash remains under investigation; officials are working with the Indiana National Guard and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to piece together what happened.
The Indiana National Guard issued a heartfelt statement after Frye’s death, calling him a dedicated soldier whose loss “resonates throughout the force.” Maj. Gen. Larry Muennich, the Guard’s adjutant general, emphasized that their unit is like a family — and that the death of one member hits everyone hard. Indiana Governor Mike Braun also shared his condolences, noting that the Guard is “always there” for communities — and now, they must all be there for Frye’s loved ones.
Officials closed all southbound lanes of I-65 near the I-865 interchange after the crash, diverting traffic while emergency and investigative teams worked the scene. Meanwhile, community support is flowing: the Indiana National Guard reminded grieving families and soldiers of available support through Military OneSource and their chaplain corps.
As the investigation continues, the loss of Spc. Terry Frye is being felt deeply — in Lafayette, in the Guard, and among all who knew him. He died doing the job he believed in, and his service will not be forgotten.
