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A Fort Wayne mother who was described as caring and active in her faith died Sunday when the car her teenage daughter was driving crashed in Whitley County, authorities said.
Kelly R. Arnold, 45, was killed after the vehicle she was riding in was struck when it entered the intersection at South Whitley County Road 500 East and Indiana 14, according to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and Whitley County Coroner Scott Smith.
Arnold’s daughter, Sydney Arnold, 15, was driving the vehicle north on South County Road 500 East, Whitley County Sheriff Mark Hodges said.
A sheriff’s department news release said the driver appeared to have disregarded a stop sign and was struck by a westbound vehicle. A crash reconstructionist is working to map out the scene and determine whether the teen stopped, Hodges said.
Arnold and her daughter, Sydney, were inseparable in life, said Kelly Arnold’s sister, Mindy English, 35.
“Her mom was her best friend,” English said of Sydney.
Matt Hauschild, 47, Kelly Arnold’s brother, said the two were leaving a graduation party when the crash occurred.
As a hairstylist at Absolute Style, Arnold built a devoted following of customers. Some were with her for as many as 25 years, Hauschild said.
Arnold graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School, where her daughter now attends. She was also active at Concordia Lutheran Church. She was involved in Bible study and volunteered for the 40 Days for Life campaign last fall, English said.
