Greencastle man dies in Tuesday accident

A Greencastle man died early Tuesday in a single-vehicle crash in Crawfordsville.

Matthew Hardwick Hayes, 25, died at the scene of the crash on U.S. 231 on the city's south side.

According to The Paper of Montgomery County, Crawfordsville Police Chief Kurt Knecht said that Hayes was killed when his vehicle struck a pole just before 6:11 a.m.

"He was traveling south on U.S. 231 as he neared the area of Home Depot," Knecht said. "He crossed over into the northbound lane."

He said that Hayes stuck a pole in front of Buffalo Wild Wings.

"At this point we have been yet to determine his rate of speed," Knecht said.

Knecht said that police officers were on the scene for about two hours. He said that Hayes was the only person involved in the accident.

Detective Sgt. Mike Norman was the first detective on the scene. He said the preliminary cause of death was blunt force trauma.

"This is still under investigation," Norman said.

Montgomery County Coroner Darren Foreman pronounced Hayes dead at the scene.

The investigation in the accident is continuing.

A complete obituary for Hayes appears today on Page 12A.