Extrication unit uses skills, patients airlifted to city hospitals
Accidents keep police, rescue crews busy
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Area rescue crews and law enforcement were kept busy with a number of accidents including crashes that involved four semi-tractor trailers in as many days.

Beginning on Thursday, January 13, through Sunday evening, January 16, officers from the Ripley County Sheriff's Department, along with officers from the Indiana State Police, worked a variety of accidents. The accidents ranged from people being seriously injured and airlifted to city hospitals, to a fatality - a horse was killed in a crash on Sunday.

· On Thursday, January 13, around 5:45 p.m. a report was received of a two-vehicle crash near US 50 and SR 129. The accident involved 16-year-old Lucas Wall of Milan, who had reportedly crossed the centerline into the path of a semi tractor trailer rig that was eastbound. The semi was operated by Joseph F. Halloran, 58, of Rising Sun.

Wall had to be extricated from his vehicle and was taken to Margaret Mary Community Hospital, Batesville and then on to UC Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition.

Sandra A. Davidson, 42, of Batesville, was stopped at the intersection when a tire from the semi was thrown into her vehicle causing minor damage. The semi operator nor Davidson were transported.

According to the investigating officer Deputy Rob Bradley, traffic on US 50 was stopped for about one hour while rescue crews cleared the scene.

Deputy Bradley was assisted at the scene by Captain David Pippin and Deputy Corky Houseworth of the
Ripley County Sheriff's Department; Holton Town Marshal Billey Moore, ISP DOT, Rescue 30, Medic One, Truck 61 Extrication, the Versailles and New Marion fire departments. The accident is still under investigation.

About 1:25 p.m. on Friday, January 14, officers from the Indiana State Police responded to a crash on US 50 and CR 300 W involving a semi tractor trailer and a Chevrolet Blazer.

The 1996 Freightliner was be ing driven by Joe Bryant of Dallas, TX, and was traveling westbound on US 50 behind the Blazer. The semi driver told police the blazer slowed down and he thought it was going to turn right. However, the vehicle turned left as the semi pulled into the eastbound lane to pass it.

Both the driver, Alice F. Collett, 47, and passenger Allen Collett, 50, of North Vernon, were injured. Alice was transported to Jennings County Hospital with neck and back pain and Allen was taken via Lifeline helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. They were both extricated from their vehicle.

Sgt. Houze was assisted at the scene by Sgt. Dan Goris, Trooper Sam Arp, CVED Inspectors A.J. Heaton and B. Ochs. Also assisting at the scene were members of the Ripley County Sheriff's Department, Versailles Police Department, Versailles, New Marion and Holton fire departments, Rescue 69, and Methodist Lifeline Helicopter.

· Saturday, January 15, brought another crash involving a semi tractor trailer. This time the accident occurred on SR 350 between Osgood and Delaware when a vehicle being operated by Nicholas Meister, 17, of Osgood, pulled out in front of a semi traveling on SR 350.

The accident is under investigation by the Ripley County Sheriff's Department. According to information from the police report, Meister started to pull out of a private drive onto 350 when his passenger yelled, "truck coming". He tried to back up, but was struck by the semi driven by Maurice Buening, 64, of Greensburg. The crash occurred about 12:20 p.m. No one is reported to have been injured in the accident.

· Sunday, January 16, a horse died when it was struck on US 50 near Elrod.

Preliminary investigation revealed that horses had been roaming free in the area and entered the roadway. Don Caylor, 17, of Dillsboro, was westbound when he struck a horse with his passenger car. Caylor ran off the roadway near the residence of 5737 E. US 50. Caylor, nor his passenger were injured.

While that crash took place, a semi-tractor trailer headed eastbound on US 50 began sliding on the slick roads and struck another horse, causing the semi to leave the roadway and land on its side. The rig was being operated by Richard Center, 55, of Madison. Center was transported to King's Daughters' Hospital in Madison, by Milan Rescue 30. He was treated and released for minor injuries sustained in the crash.

The road between SR 101 and SR 129 on US 50 was closed for approximately six hours as crews worked to remove the debris from the scene. McBrand Inc. was called in to remove the tractor trailer, and its contents, which had to be unloaded before the rig could be moved.

Deputy Tom Grills of the Ripley County Sheriff's Department was the
investigating officer. He was assisted by other officers from the sheriff's department, Indiana State Police, and Milan Fire Department.

Also on Sunday in the early morning hours, an accident was reported near 9091 S. St. Rd. 129. According to Sgt. Noel Houze Jr. of the Indiana State Police, the call came in at 2:06 a.m. saying there were three vehicles crashed but no one around them. Then one minute later, it was reported that there was one person ejected and wedged between cars at the scene.

State Trooper David Noah arrived at the scene to find one male injured. He carried no identification. That male was taken via aircare and his condition is not known at this time. The crash is still under investigation.

Sgt. Houze noted he believed there was only one person involved, the driver who was ejected. He said the driver had apparently crashed into two parked vehicles.

Information from yet another crash on Sunday was not available at press time. The accident occurred at approximately 7:43 p.m. on 450 S. between New Marion and Correct. At least one person was injured and taken by helicopter to a city hospital. The Ripley County Sheriff's Department is handling the investigation.

The reported accidents are just a few of the duties officers carried out during this four-day period. Sheriff Bill Davison noted his deputies had been extremely busy. He commended them for their professionalism and dedication during a very busy time.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Members of Truck 61 Extrication Unit worked to free the Colletts from their vehicle after they were hit by a semi tractor trailer on US 50 and CR 300 W. on Friday, January 14. Both vehicles were traveling westbound on US 50 when the Colletts slowed to make a turn. The semi driver began to go around them thinking they were making a right turn. They turned left and the semi hit them knocking their vehicle into a ditch. Mr. Collett was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.