Freshman’s car crashes into limestone sculpture off SR 37

Timothy Estep, 21, died Saturday after his car struck a limestone sculpture outside of Oliver Winery on State Road 37.

A preliminary investigation shows that he died due to injuries from the crash, and the coroner is continuing to investigate, according to a press release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Estep was a freshman from Rochester, Ind., IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said.

Estep began at IU in fall 2010 and wanted to apply to nursing school, said Jamie Steiner, Estep’s girlfriend with whom he had a 2-year-old son named DeVon.

Estep was driving north when he ran off the west side of SR 37 into the median near Sample Road. He then seemed to overcorrect the car, cross the northbound lanes and ran off the east side of the road, where he struck the large sculpture, the release continued.

The accident happened at about 9:30 a.m., and Estep’s 2007 gray Cadillac had major damage, according to the release.

U.S. mail carrier Adam Schobinger said he was pulling into the parking lot at the winery when he noticed the smoking car and Oliver employees outside. He said from the car’s passenger side, it appeared to just be double-parked in the parking lot, but the other side of the car was mangled.

Schobinger said he tried to see if there were other passengars, but could barely see inside the car. He added that he couldn’t reach the driver to check for a pulse. There was nothing that anybody could do, Schobinger said.

Schobinger said he waited for emergency workers to arrive before he left. Still in shock, Schobinger said he pulled over after driving for a little bit and called his roommate to calm down.

“People need to not be stupid when they’re driving,” Steiner said. “People take their lives for granted.”

-Nick Cusack contributed to this report.