Sharpsville man dies in crash on US Highway 31 in Kokomo

KOKOMO, Ind. — A Sharpsville man died in a crash on U.S. Highway 31 in Kokomo on Wednesday. According to a press release from the Kokomo Police Department, around 6:04 a.m., officers were dispatched to U.S. Highway 31 near Center Road to investigate an automobile crash. When police arrived at the scene, they located a silver 2014 Chevrolet Equinox and an overturned black 2000 Ford Excursion at the bottom of a ditch. Upon further investigation, police determined that the drivers of both vehicles were travelling northbound on U.S. Highway 31 before the crash. Per KPD, the crash happened when the driver of the Excursion rear-ended the Equinox. After the driver of the Excursion struck the Equinox, the Excursion rolled over multiple times. The Excursion's driver was ejected from the vehicle when it rolled over. The Howard County Coroner's Office responded to the scene around 6:35 a.m. to assist KPD with its investigation. HCCO ultimately pronounced the driver of the Excursion — 41-year-old Charlie J. Bowman — dead at the scene. KPD confirmed that the driver of the Equinox was not injured in the crash. Police also reported that Bowman was "unrestrained" during the crash. A forensic pathologist is slated to conduct an autopsy on Bowman's body at the Howard County Coroner's Office on Tuesday. HCCO will release Bowman's exact cause and manner of death once toxicology test results are in. HCCO and the KPD are still investigating the crash. Both agencies are encouraging those with additional information on the crash to contact officer Greg Smith at (765) 456-7017 or [email protected].