Woman, child killed in accident

On hand to declare Feb. 6 as Percy L. Julian Day in the city of Greencastle were (front, from left) Heritage Preservation Society member Marion Cook, Mayor Nancy Michael, DePauw University professor of chemistry and biochemistry Bridget Gourley, (middle, from left) Colleen Matthews, executive director of Mill Pond Health Campus, Greencastle Twp. Advisory Board member Charles Miles, DPU associate professor of political science Clarissa Peterson, city clerk-treasurer Teresa Glenn, DPU archives associate Jenney Taylor, (back, from left) Sue Parsons of the Putnam County Museum, DPU associate professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Jeff Hansen, James L. Lincoln, vice president student services at DPU, and Leslie James, associate professor of Religious Studies and director of Black Studies at DPU. Nova's television special "Forgotten Genius," will air at 8 p.m. Feb. 6 on PBS and will include a feature on the former DePauw student and chemist.

A Greencastle woman and her infant son were killed in a automobile accident on State Road 75 near Coatesville on Friday.

Around 1:44 p.m. Friday, Hendricks County Dispatch received 911 calls reporting a two-vehicle crash on Ind. 75 just north of County Road 450 South in Hendricks County, approximately one half mile north of Coatesville.

Hendricks County Sgt. Chuck Morefield indicated that a black 1999 Chevrolet Suburban, driven by John Stokes, 75, Coatesville, was traveling northbound on State Road 75 and went partially off the road on the east side. As Stokes came back onto the road, he went left to center and into the southbound lane where he struck a red 1995 Pontiac Transport mini-van, driven by Danielle M. Chew 31, Greencastle.

Chew's vehicle went off the roadway on the east side, rolled over and came to a rest on its top. Stoke's vehicle continued northbound and went off the roadway on the west side where it came to a rest.

Investigators confirm that the primary contributing factor was the Suburban traveling left to center, but neither alcohol or weather were considered as factors.

Stokes and his wife Doris, 74, Coatesville, were wearing their seatbelts and were transported to Hendricks Regional Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Chew, who was not wearing her seatbelt, and her one year old son Chance K. Chew died as a result of their injuries.

For obituary information, see page two.