Boone County authorities are investigating a tragic three-vehicle crash that occurred on Friday, August 15, 2025, in the 8500 block of North State Road 39. The crash involved Jose Chavez, 64, Norma Perez, 59, Yaraliz Mercado, 25, Brice Stingley, 62, and Russel Hampton, 62. At approximately 10:25 a.m., the Boone County Communications Center received reports of a serious accident. Deputies from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and emergency personnel responded immediately.
The collision involved a 2012 tan GMC Terrain, a concrete truck, and a 2021 RAM passenger van. Tragically, the driver of the GMC Terrain, Jose Chavez, and the front passenger, Norma Perez, were pronounced deceased at the scene. A rear passenger in the Terrain, Yaraliz Mercado, was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital. The driver of the RAM van, Brice Stingley, also sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. The concrete truck driver, Russel Hampton, suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation. Due to the severity of the injuries and fatalities, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (FACT) is assisting with the investigation. Authorities are reviewing evidence and asking anyone with information to come forward.
Further details will be released as they become available. The community mourns the loss of Jose Chavez and Norma Perez and sends thoughts and prayers to all affected by this tragedy.
If you want, I can also rewrite the entire piece in an even snappier, more readable format for news outlets with short paragraphs and emphasis on the victims’ names and roles. Do you want me to do that?
Leave a Reply