Charges filed in double fatal June crash

Dearborn County Prosecuting Attorney Lynn Deddens announced Tuesday, September 1 that Steven Ray Witte, 46, of Moores Hill, has been charged with multiple felonies arising from a June 12, 2026, crash that claimed the lives of Jordan and Sierra Walters, both 33, and seriously injured their two children, ages four and six.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Indiana State Police responded at approximately 5:58 p.m. to a head-on collision on State Road 350 in Dearborn County. Investigators allege that Witte was driving a Ford F-150 westbound when his vehicle crossed completely into the eastbound lane and struck the Walters family’s GMC Terrain near the fog line. A guardrail prevented the Walters vehicle from moving farther to avoid the collision.

The force of the impact sent the Walters vehicle over the guardrail and down an embankment. Jordan and Sierra Walters were pronounced deceased at the scene. Their two young children survived but suffered serious injuries and were transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for treatment.

The affidavit describes the terrifying moments experienced by the children. According to family members, the six-year-old remembers seeing the truck in front of the family’s vehicle, hearing his mother scream, and then hearing an extremely loud impact. After the crash, he looked at his four-year-old brother and initially believed that his brother did not have eyes because of the amount of blood covering his face. Medical records indicate that both children underwent surgeries as a result of the injuries they sustained from the crash.

Despite being injured himself, the six-year-old climbed out of the wrecked vehicle, made his way under the guardrail, and reached the roadway to seek help for his parents and younger brother.

A blood sample obtained from Witte pursuant to a search warrant was submitted to the Indiana Department of Toxicology. The results came back in late August and according to the affidavit, testing showed the presence of methamphetamine, amphetamine, buprenorphine, and norbuprenorphine in Witte’s blood.

The affidavit further states that on Friday, August 28, Witte was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by an Indiana State Police trooper. Witte and the driver were subsequently arrested after more than 10 grams but less than 28 grams of suspected methamphetamine were allegedly discovered. Separate charges arising from that traffic stop were filed in Dearborn Circuit Court.

During an interview with investigators on August 31, Witte allegedly stated that he was drug-dependent at the time of the fatal crash, had no memory of the collision, and was a habitual user of methamphetamine. According to the affidavit, Witte also identified suspected drugs recovered from his truck following the crash as the same drugs that had been inside his vehicle that day.

Witte has been charged in connection with the fatal crash with:

Two counts of Operating a Vehicle Causing Death with a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance, Level 4 felonies;

Two counts of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Death, Level 4 felonies;
Two counts of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Level 5 felonies;

Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person, a Class A misdemeanor; and

Operating a Vehicle with a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance in the Blood, a Class C misdemeanor.

“This is an almost unimaginable tragedy,” Prosecutor Deddens said. “Jordan and Sierra Walters lost their lives, and their two young children survived a horrific crash that took both of their parents from them. The courage shown by this six-year-old child—injured, frightened, and still trying to find help for his family—is difficult to put into words. No criminal charge can restore what this family has lost or erase the pain these children and their loved ones will carry. Our responsibility now is to pursue accountability carefully, thoroughly, and with the seriousness this case demands.”

Charges were filed on Tuesday, September 1 and his Initial Hearing was held at 10:30 a.m. before the Honorable Jonathan N. Cleary of Dearborn Superior Court 1.

At the Initial Hearing, Judge Cleary set a $5 million cash bond and a no contact order was entered. The court appointed Michael Sarapata to represent Witte.

Prosecutor Deddens expressed her sincere appreciation to the Indiana State Police, Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department, Aurora Police and Lawrenceburg Police, as well as the firefighters, emergency medical personnel, Air Care crews, dispatchers, medical providers, and all other first responders who worked at the scene and assisted the Walters family during an extraordinarily difficult and traumatic incident.

It is important to remember that criminal charges are merely allegations and individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty.