A deep sense of grief has swept over the close-knit community of Geneva, Indiana, in Adams County, following the heartbreaking loss of two beloved residents: 16-year-old Dallas Raugh and his mother, Thera Raugh.
The two were tragically killed in a devastating accident when their vehicle collided with a semitruck near the intersection of U.S. 27 and State Road 124, on the western edge of Monroe. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Dallas was an active and admired member of the Geneva Youth Council, and his sudden death has left the group—and the entire community—in shock. Tina Booth, a Youth Council advisor, described the immediate aftermath as a time of raw emotion and heartbreak.
“It’s so raw right now,” Booth said. “They just need this time to grieve, to be with one another. We were able to get some resources fairly quickly yesterday into town to help the kids, and so many of them showed up. We’re devastated. The kids are devastated. He was an integral part of our group, and he is going to be missed.”
Both Tina and her fellow advisor, Duane Booth, remembered Dallas as a young man of remarkable character—kind, dedicated, and full of promise. “He was a great leader, a hard worker, and genuinely a nice young man,” they said.
Dallas was known not only for his leadership within the council but also for his kindness and consistent efforts to support his peers. “Right now, it’s just a rollercoaster of emotions,” said Duane Booth.
“The sadness, the anger, the normal question of why, why is this happening, why him? That’s kind of where we’re at now because we’re just in the infancy of this. As time goes on, we’ll try to figure out the day-to-day life where it was normally, ‘Hey, I’ll call Dallas for this,’ or ‘It’s time for the treasurer’s report,’ and that was Dallas’s spot.”
In a small town like Geneva, where relationships run deep and familiar faces line the streets, the loss has resonated with every resident. Duane noted that in such towns, bonds extend beyond family lines:
“Your family doesn’t necessarily have to be blood or live in your house; it’s all of us that live in the community that have all invested a little bit of time to help support these kids. The ripple effect from this goes not only to the outside of our group but to the limits of our town and beyond.”
Dallas also shined on the football field as a member of the South Adams High School football team. Head Coach Grant Moser reflected on his vibrant personality and impact on the team.
“He was one of the happiest kids I’ve ever been around,” said Moser. “He would walk into a room and instantly make you smile. He had an impeccable work ethic and made those around him work harder. He was selfless and cared deeply about his teammates. We were gathered together last night as a team.”
As Geneva continues to mourn, the memory of Dallas and Thera Raugh will live on in the hearts of all who knew them. Their loss is profound, and the community stands united in grief and remembrance.
