SUBMITTED PHOTO Pictured above are the remains of the car Sgt. Richard Kelly, 36, was in when it was hit by a semi tractor-trailer. He was parked on the shoulder of I-65 in Clinton County doing a routine inspection of another semi tractor-trailer when the crash occurred. Kelly was sitting inside the car when it was struck but was able to call for help from his cell phone.

Move over. Slow down.

Last week Indiana State Police Sergeant Richard Kelly, 36, could have easily lost his life in an accident that left those viewing the wreckage wondering if he has a guardian angel.

Kelly had a semi-tractor trailer pulled over on the shoulder of northbound I-65 in Clinton County and was conducting an inspection of the truck when the patrol car he was sitting in was struck from behind by another semi-tractor trailer.

The vehicle’s front and rear ends were nearly disintegrated according to a press release from the Indiana State Police who also produced photos of the crash. The vehicle was partially wedged under one of the trucks. The trooper was able to pull himself from his smashed vehicle and call the Lafayette District on his cell phone.

Kelly was taken by ambulance to Home Hospital in Lafayette with a broken vertebra and several cuts. He is a 13-year state police veteran assigned to the Lafayette District.

The scene was all too familiar for Indiana State Police personnel at the Versailles Post, who lost Trooper Andrew Winzenread in much the same way a few years ago. “The only difference was Andy was out of his car when he was struck,” noted Sgt. Noel Houze Jr. Winzenread lost his life as he assisted a motorist on I-74.

After the tragic death of Winzenread, fellow troopers got together with State Representative Cleo Duncan and the Slow Down and/or Move Over law was enacted. It’s the law. Motorists must change lanes away from the emergency vehicle if they can do so safely. At a very minimum, they are required to slow down and proceed with caution.

The law encompasses police vehicles, any emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks and rescue equipment, highway incident response vehicles, highway work trucks or vehicles and vehicle recovery equipment such as tow trucks.

Police note that the law does not require or want motorists to stop, because this could cause a chain reaction, but simply slow down and move over whenever possible.

Sgt. Houze of the Versailles Post noted that not only are police and emergency workers at risk, but other citizens as well who may be in the vicinity of an accident area. “Just slow down, be aware, and move over if you can,” he noted.

The law was enacted to protect emergency and highway personnel who serve the public. Motorists are asked to be alert when driving, and when you see emergency lights flashing give them room to do their job safely.

For those who violate the law, they can be fined and their license suspended for up to two years if damage is caused to emergency equipment, or injury or death to an emergency worker occurs.
Several local officers have had close calls at accident scenes and reiterate that motorists need to slow down. Versailles Town Marshal David Adams and his deputy, Joe Mann were both nearly hit at accident scenes they were working as well as Deputy Bill Dramann of the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department.

Move over. Slow Down. It’s the law.