Wanda English Burnett - Editor

In less than two hours on Tuesday, June 13, three accidents occurred back-to-back near the Versailles area keeping the 911 Communications Center very busy.

The first accident was on US 50 east of Versailles State Park at the Whispering Pines Pay Lake.

According to information from Lt. Lee Mathews of the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, Melvin K. Hayden, 53, of Indianapolis was operating a tractor-trailer westbound on US 50 when for an unknown reason he ran off the roadway. The officer noted that the truck went across a couple of driveways then hit a pole where it came to a stop. The accident occurred at 10:09 a.m.

Fuel from the rig was leaking into the ground, but not on the roadway. The accident took several hours to get cleaned up with a company from Indianapolis coming back Tuesday evening to clean up the ground where the fuel had leaked. Chuck Folz, owner of the property, noted he was pleased with the cleanup.

Due to the accident, electric was out for a short period of time Tuesday morning, hampering the efforts of cooks at Browning’s Restaurant. “We had it rough for a while, it put us behind,” noted Martha Browning, owner of the business.

Hayden refused medical treatment at the scene but complained of pain in his shoulder. He told officers he would get it checked out when he got home.

Lt. Mathews was assisted at the scene by other officers from the sheriff’s department, Indiana State Police Sgt. Dan Goris, Versailles Fire Department and Ripley County Emergency Management Agency.

Not quite an hour had passed when emergency crews were called to another accident, this one on Benham Road, south of Versailles. According to David Farrell, a county highway truck driver, who saw the accident, Roxanna Rutledge, 55, of Colvin Drive, Versailles, was southbound on Benham Road when she dropped off the west side, hit a ditch and then her van rolled over.

Rutledge was transported to the Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg by Rescue 69, where she was treated for broken ribs. She was released the next day.

ISP Trooper Ben Bastin was the investigating officer and was assisted at the scene by officers from the sheriff’s department, Versailles Fire, and Rescue 69.

While officers were still at the Benham Road accident, the tones were dropped by 911 dispatchers to respond to yet another accident. This one was on US 50 and Michigan Road.
Kyle Murphy, 36, of Pandora, OH, was injured when he lost control of the motorcycle he was operating. Witnesses said a pickup truck was westbound and was turning north on Michigan Road. The motorcyclist did not see the turn signal in time and layed the bike down in an attempt to keep from hitting the truck.

Murphy was wearing a helmet and protective gear that kept him from getting life-threatening injuries. He was transported to Margaret Mary Community Hospital by Rescue 69. He noted he was on the second day of a five day trip he had planned.
ISP Trooper Ben Bastin was the investigating officer at the scene. He was assisted by officers from the sheriff’s department, Holton Town Marshal, Holton Fire Department and first responders and paramedics.

MIKE MAUNE PHOTOS TOP: Roxanna Rutledge of Versailles, was injured when her van flipped on Benham Road. She was transported to Dearborn County Hospital. BOTTOM: This semi tractor-trailer left the roadway for unknown reasons on US 50 east of Versailles. Electric was out for a short period of time due to him hitting a pole. Both accidents occurred in less than an hour on Tuesday, June 13.