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Greencastle man dies in Monday night motor scooter accident
A Greencastle man died Monday evening after his motor scooter collided with a small SUV on the city's east side.
The driver of the scooter, 57-year-old Charles D. Johnston, was thrown from his 2009 Yamaha scooter and suffered major bodily injury after colliding with a 2005 Saturn Vue driven by Deborah Hall, 60, of Carbon.
Greencastle Police Department Sgt. Charles Inman told the Banner Graphic that at 9:35 p.m., Hall was northbound on Fillmore Road on her way to work at IAC.
Hall told Inman that as she prepared to turn left into the south entrance of IAC, 750 S. Fillmore Rd., she saw the headlight of the southbound scooter but believed she had ample time and speed to make the turn.
However, as she crossed left of center to make the turn, Hall turned into Johnston's path, resulting in what the police report described as a "violent head-on collision."
Johnston was thrown from the scooter in the collision. He was unresponsive upon the arrival of emergency responders.
Operation Life medics began treatment and transported him to Putnam County Hospital, where he later succumbed to massive internal and lower torso injuries.
Although Johnston was wearing a helmet, the device was dislodged in the collision and was later located on the side of the road, approximately 25 feet from the site of collision.
Funeral services for Johnston are pending at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle.
Hall was not injured, but Inman reported she was shaken up by the incident.
Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident, but Hall submitted to a chemical test, as is standard in a fatal accident.
She was cited for failure to yield and for operating without proof of financial responsibility, a charge that could be dropped if Hall provides proof of insurance at the time of the crash.
Other officers at the scene were GPD Officer Nick Eastham, who was the first to arrive, along with Sheriff's Department Lt. Dwight Simmons and Indiana State Police Trooper Ryan Purkiser.
The Greencastle Fire Department also assisted at the scene with cleanup and traffic control.