After more than four years since the fatal collision on S. Lafayette Street and McKinnie Avenue in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the driver responsible for causing death and injury has been apprehended. On April 4, 2021, the Fort Wayne community was shaken by a vehicular tragedy when two cars collided, leading to immediate devastation. As reported by the City of Fort Wayne official communication, responding officers found one party pinned in the wreckage, while the occupants of the offending vehicle fled the scene.
The Fort Wayne Police Department's Fatal Accident Crash Team (FACT) was quickly engaged to methodically investigate the incident. Through their perseverance last Thursday, they managed to finally locate and to calmly arrest 31-year-old Kierra Chapman without confrontation. Chapman has been charged with one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident-Causing Death and three additional counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident-Causing Bodily Injury, according to official statements. Chapman was taken to the Allen County Jail to await due process for her alleged crimes.
Seventeen-year-old Samayah Barker was declared deceased at the scene of the crash in 2021. The Allen County Coroner’s office later stated that Barker died due to "blunt force injuries due to a motor vehicle crash." The senseless loss of such young life has left an indelible mark on the Fort Wayne community. The other injured parties from the crash have had to carry forward the physical and emotional scars from that night.
With the support of the Allen County Prosecutor's Office, the Fort Wayne Police Department FACT team continues to demonstrate their commitment to serving and protecting, ensuring that those who brazenly evade the consequences of their actions are held accountable.
