Aside from the father of a deceased 14-year-old speaking out about his death, a GoFundMe page has been created to support the family during this devastating time.
A tragic single-vehicle crash on Interstate 65 near Lebanon, Indiana, claimed the life of a teenage boy and left several others injured. The incident occurred on April 4, 2025, at approximately 4:52 p.m., near the 135-mile marker of the northbound lanes.
According to a statement released by the Lebanon Police Department, officers responded to reports of a serious accident and discovered that two minors had been ejected from the vehicle involved.
Upon arrival, emergency responders closed both directions of the interstate to ensure the safety of those on the scene and began administering life-saving aid. A 12-year-old girl, who was ejected during the crash, was found breathing and conscious.
She was transported to a hospital in the Indianapolis area for further medical treatment. A 14-year-old boy, also ejected, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The driver, identified as 35-year-old Taylor Kammes of Illinois, was transported to an Indianapolis hospital for a mandatory blood draw in accordance with Indiana’s Implied Consent law.
Additional vehicle occupants were also taken to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation at this time.
Several agencies assisted at the scene, including the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Lebanon Fire Department, and Boone County EMS.
Additional information provided by People magazine stipulates that the family had been returning home to the Chicago area after spending their spring break in North Carolina, according to Detective Sergeant Justin Fuston of the Lebanon Police Department.
Fuston, who also serves as the department’s public information officer, shared that the vehicle reportedly experienced a mechanical issue just before the tragic incident.
The driver, Kammes, informed authorities that she had been dealing with ongoing problems with the vehicle in the weeks leading up to the crash. Fuston confirmed that a malfunction did occur prior to the accident, though the exact nature of it has not yet been disclosed.
The father of Jordan Thomas Laskowski, the 14-year-old boy who has died, took to Facebook with an emotional message. “I lost my best friend yesterday in a tragic accident…. This pain I’m feeling is overbearing…. I never got to say goodbye to my son….” reads a portion of the bereaved dad’s message.
A GoFundMe page has been created to assist Laskowski’s family as they mourn his loss. Upon hearing about the terrible accident, online spectators commented on what happened.
“Were they not wearing seatbelts [sic],” one Facebooker wondered, while another echoed a similar sentiment, “Why were these kids not seatbelted? Or did they skip outbid [sic] them during the wreck?” Another netizen urged, “Please wear your seatbelt.” More details on the story will follow shortly.
