Background: State Road 18 in Converse, Ind. (Google Maps). Inset (left): Adria Wilkerson (Sarasota County Sheriff”s Office). Inset (right): Vicki Colley (Armes-Hunt Funeral Home).
In a dramatic cross-state pursuit, a woman accused of a fatal car crash in Indiana has been apprehended in Florida. Adria Wilkerson, aged 31, was detained by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday. The arrest stems from a tragic incident that claimed the life of 45-year-old Vicki Colley. Court documents reveal that an arrest warrant was issued in Indiana’s Grant County for Wilkerson, who allegedly collided with Colley’s vehicle head-on. The collision occurred after Wilkerson reportedly drove her black BMW recklessly through a farmer’s fence, coming to a rest in a cow pasture before returning to the road.
Once back on the roadway, Wilkerson is accused of crashing into Colley’s Chevrolet, resulting in Colley being trapped and sustaining fatal injuries. This tragic incident marked the end of Wilkerson’s erratic journey, which had begun in the small village of Corinth in upstate New York. Reports suggest that Wilkerson abandoned her child before commencing her interstate drive. Although her family mentioned a history of “suicidal ideology,” further details about her decision to leave her child remain unclear.
Wilkerson’s journey took a perilous turn as she traveled west through Indiana. On October 1, 2025, around 4 p.m., authorities received multiple reports of a black BMW being driven erratically near Oak Hill High School in Converse, Indiana. According to court documents, these reports began filtering in approximately 18 minutes prior to the reported crash. The vehicle in question was later identified as Wilkerson’s.
When law enforcement arrived at the crash site, they encountered Wilkerson’s BMW engulfed in flames. She was extricated from her vehicle with assistance and airlifted to a hospital, suffering from serious injuries. Meanwhile, emergency responders worked to free Colley from her car, but despite efforts, she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Initially, her death was classified as an accident.
After leaving New York, Wilkerson apparently headed west and drove through Indiana. Police responded at 4 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2025, after receiving reports about a black BMW “driving recklessly” on a state road near Oak Hill High School in Converse, Indiana. According to court documents, police began receiving reports about the vehicle, later identified as the one being driven by Wilkerson, 18 minutes before the crash was reported.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Wilkerson’s BMW on fire. Wilkerson was able to get out of her car with assistance and was taken by helicopter to the hospital with “serious” injuries. Colley was removed from her car after being trapped inside, but died at the hospital. Her death was initially ruled an accident.
Once police got a clearer picture of how Wilkerson was apparently driving before her vehicle allegedly struck Colley’s, they began investigating Wilkerson. An arrest warrant was issued for Wilkerson on Feb. 13, charging her with reckless homicide and reckless driving.
Authorities in Sarasota County announced that Wilkerson was located in Venice, Florida, and was arrested by deputies on Tuesday. She is being held in the Sarasota County Jail until she is extradited to Indiana to face charges.
