Road closed, power lost following accident

Lights flickered in some homes in the Versailles area and then power was lost for approximately two hours Tuesday morning, January 11, following an accident on US 421 and CR 500 S.

According to Deputy Tom Grills of the Ripley County Sheriff's Department, Virginia Gabbard, 47, of Madison, was northbound on US 421 when she hydroplaned, lost control and hit a pole with enough force to knock the lines off the insulator.

Due to the nature of the accident, rescue crews could not get to Gabbard until REMC employees were able to make sure the lines were not hot.

The accident occurred around 10:00 a.m. and traffic was stopped until about noon.

Deputy Grills noted that Gabbard was wearing her seatbelt and taken to King's Daughters' Hospital with minor injuries.

Assisting Grills at the scene were Versailles Fire, Rescue 69, Paramedics, and ISP officers.