Woman arrested in connection with fatal crash on U.S. 20

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. - The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 40-year-old Lashea C. Bird in connection with death of Kendra L. Murphy.

Authorities say on February 12, 2024, Bird was driving a vehicle traveling west on U.S. 20.

Murphy was a passenger in the vehicle with Bird, when the vehicle left the road and crashed into a tree on the northwest corner of U.S. 20 and Wilhelm Road.

Bird sustained an upper body injury in the crash while Murphy was pronounced dead at the scene.

The report states in the weeks that followed, several agency members continued investigating the circumstances of the crash.

Authorities say the findings were presented to the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and later to La Porte County Circuit Court.

On March 1, 2024, a La Porte County Circuit Court judge issued a sealed arrest warrant for Bird for three counts of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death, each a level four felony.

Authorities then learned Bird had fled Indiana and was in Texas, according to the official report.

The report goes on to state, that's when members of the Fugitive Apprehension Street Team shared information regarding Bird with their federal colleagues in Texas.

Bird was taken into custody by a US Marshals Service Taskforce in Tarrant County, Texas on May 7.

Bird waived extradition the next day to begin the process of being extradited back to La Porte County.

Bird is now back in Indiana at the La Porte County Jail.

She remains held on a $20,000 cash-only bond.