Greencastle Banner-Graphic: Local News: Local man dies in single-car crash (02/04/08)

Firefighters from Greencastle and Cloverdale Township investigate a fatal crash on CR 600 South, east of Manhattan Road, Monday morning.

A 62-year-old Putnam County man was killed Monday morning when the pick-up truck he was driving overturned on CR 600 South about a mile east of Manhattan Road.

Police say Kelly J. Baker, who lived near where the accident occurred, was driving southbound on CR 300 West at around 10:30 a.m. Police speculate that as Baker approached a curve in the road, where it becomes CR 600 South, the vehicle slipped off the south side of the road, causing it to go out of control.

Putnam County Sheriff's Sgt. Don Pettit, who investigated the scene, said it appeared Baker overcorrected, causing his 2001 Ford F250 to spin out of control and skid to the north side of the road where it rolled onto its side in a ditch and came to rest against some trees next to the road.

Investigators at the scene said it appeared Baker was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was partially ejected through the passenger side window.

Although police weren't sure why the crash occurred, conditions at the time of the accident were poor, with heavy fog and light drizzle in the area.

Medics from Operation Life, firefighters from Greencastle and Cloverdale Township, along with sheriff's deputies and officers from Greencastle City Police and the Indiana State Police responded to the scene where they found Baker pinned underneath the truck.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Putnam County Coroner's office.

"This is a kind of accident where a seatbelt could have saved someone's life," Coroner Thomas Miller said.

Sad to see this happen. R.I.P

-- Posted by tickedoffguy on Mon, Feb 4, 2008, at 5:49 PM

He was a good man and friend, I will miss him dearly, My prayers go out to his family.

-- Posted by Afghan Contractor on Tue, Feb 5, 2008, at 10:39 PM

My prayers go out to his family and friends. Especially his young children. I'm sorry to see this happen.

-- Posted by jm46135 on Tue, Feb 5, 2008, at 10:51 PM

To his family and friends, I am sorry for your loss.

To everyone else, people, wear your seatbelts! This is another tragedy that almost surely could have been prevented by the use of a seatbelt.

-- Posted by duallydriver on Wed, Feb 6, 2008, at 6:38 PM

Mr Baker used to be a customer of mine when I worked in Greencastle. He was a very nice man and had a good heart. Its sad to hear about this. My heart goes out to the family.

-- Posted by Hungry&Fat on Thu, Feb 7, 2008, at 6:25 PM