Corrections Employee William Spears and Corrections Employee Ora Ambrose were killed in a railroad crossing accident near the Indiana Boys' School near Plainfield.

   Corrections Employee Ambrose, Corrections Employee Spears and others had been searching for three boys who escaped from the institution earlier in the afternoon. When the search was called off at dusk, another individual gave up his seat in the vehicle Corrections Employee Ambrose was driving to permit Corrections Employee Spears to return to the institution with him.

   As they approached the Vandalia Railroad crossing at Vestal Road near Plainfield, their vehicle was struck by an eastbound train, killing both of them instantly. Corrections Employee Ambrose was thrown down an embankment 400 feet from the crossing, while Corrections Employee Spears became lodged on the engine pilot.

   Corrections Employee Spears, from Plainfield, was a steward at the facility and single.

~ ~ ~

This officer, discovered in 2007, has not been submitted for consideration as an eligible line of duty death to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund by the Indiana Department of Correction.