A three-vehicle accident on Interstate 65 on Friday led to the tragic death of a Lafayette Indiana National Guardsman, while three others were hospitalized.
Terry Frye, a 23-year-old graduate of Frankfort High School and a specialist in the Indiana National Guard, lost his life after four soldiers from Company D, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment were involved in a multi-vehicle crash on I-65 in Boone County.
According to Indiana National Guard Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Frye had just celebrated his 23rd birthday in September.
The soldiers were en route in a convoy from the Frankfort Armory to Camp Atterbury for training during a drill weekend when the incident occurred. The investigation into the accident is ongoing as of Monday morning, Lowry stated, and updates regarding the status and conditions of the other three soldiers will be provided later.
Frye had been serving in the Guard since March 2020 as an infantryman with Company D in Frankfort, Lowry noted. Throughout his five years of service, Frye received the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Ethan Brown, the owner of Jake’s Lafayette and the Neon Cactus, remarked that Frye, during his time working for Brown’s family at various restaurants in Rossville and Flora, was motivated by his deep love for his family.
“His mother and sisters were everything to him. Later, when he met his fiancée and had a child, that became his entire world,” Brown expressed. “When Terry set his mind to something, he was capable of achieving it. He was full of life and love for his family.”
Throughout Frye’s three years of intermittent employment with Brown, he often provided transportation for Frye to and from work. Brown mentioned that they would frequently discuss their lives during these drives.
When Frye made the decision to enlist in the Guard, Brown noted that it significantly altered Frye’s life. “He genuinely believed he could steer his life in a positive direction,” Brown said. “He found a sense of purpose and felt that this would benefit his entire family.”
As of Monday morning, Lowry indicated that no funeral arrangements have been established yet, and the Guard
