Crash Stalls Traffic on U.S. 231

A three-vehicle accident at 11:15 a.m. Thursday caused two people to be flown to Indianapolis hospitals and another to be taken to Putnam County Hospital via ambulance. The crash occurred on US 231 and CR 100N. [Order this photo]

The crash caused two people to be airlifted to Indianapolis and another to be taken via ambulance to Putnam County Hospital for treatment.

Just after 11 a.m., Joel Phillips, 21, of Greencastle was stopped in the southbound lane of U.S. 231 waiting to make a left turn onto C.R. 100N when his 1999 Mercury Cougar was struck from behind by Patrick Tipton, 33, of Indianapolis.

Tipton, who was attempting to pass Phillips, was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Express van registered to Diebold Inc. south on U.S. 231. When he struck the back of Phillips' car, the impact sent it careening head-on into a vehicle driven by Crawfordsville resident Mari Kay Stultz, 63, who was driving her 2007 Chrysler Sebring northbound.

Stultz had her 6-year-old grandson in the vehicle at the time of the crash. He suffered abdominal pain and a possible broken right arm and was airlifted to Riley Children's Hospital, Indianapolis.

A representative of Clarion Hospitals, which includes Riley, IU Medical Center and Methodist, could not confirm the condition and nature of injuries Phillips sustained in the accident.

Putnam County Hospital personnel declined to comment on Stultz's condition. Tipton did not sustain any injuries.

Putnam County Sheriff's Department Lt. Danny Wallace was assisted at the scene by Greencastle Police Chief Tom Sutherlin, Greencastle Police Officers Mike Hanolin and Nick Eastham, Indiana State Police Trooper John Myers, representatives from the Greencastle Fire Department, Kim Hyten with Emergency Management, Putnam County Operation Life, Putnam County Sheriff's Department Deputy Ronnie Campbell and Putnam County Sheriff Steve Fenwick.