Just after sunrise Thursday, a quiet stretch of State Road 109 near Markleville, Indiana, became the scene of a tragic crash that claimed the life of 56‑year‑old Nancy Staley. Deputies with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department said the deadly collision happened around 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of State Road 109 and County Road 200 East when an 18‑year‑old driver crossed the centerline and struck Staley’s Jeep head‑on.
Staley, a lifelong resident of Markleville, was driving her 2006 Jeep Wrangler southbound on the rural two‑lane road when the crash occurred. Deputies say the other vehicle, a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Aidan Patterson of Anderson, veered across the yellow line into oncoming traffic. The impact was so forceful that Staley was ejected from her vehicle. Emergency crews pronounced her dead at the scene.
Patterson, who was uninjured in the collision, was taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies and later booked into the Madison County Jail. Authorities say he now faces a string of charges connected to the crash, starting with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, a Level 4 felony under Indiana law.
In addition to the OWI causing death count, Patterson is charged with obstruction of justice, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated — impairment. Those charges range from felonies to misdemeanors, and if convicted, could carry decades behind bars.
Investigators have not yet released details on whether speed, weather or other factors played a role in the early‑morning crash. The sheriff’s department also hasn’t specified what controlled substance was allegedly found in Patterson’s possession or how the obstruction charge developed. The accident investigation team continues to gather evidence as the case moves through the legal process.
State Road 109 is a key north‑south route through Madison County’s farming country, linking Anderson with the smaller communities that dot the landscape. The rural stretch where the crash happened serves residents and commuters alike, a road familiar to local drivers but scrubbed with dangers when traffic and human error collide.
Friends and neighbors described Staley as someone who loved her community, a presence in local events and family life. Her sudden death has left a hole in the Markleville area, and residents are reminding one another about the fragility of life and the consequences of driving under the influence.
The Sheriff’s Department urged anyone who travels State Road 109 and other county roads to stay alert and make smart choices behind the wheel, especially during early‑morning hours when visibility and driver alertness can fluctuate. More details are expected as prosecutors prepare formal charges and court dates for Patterson.
