Accident claims local man, 21, Terre Haute woman, 19

Local emergency personnel were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident on Manhattan Road Tuesday afternoon which resulted in two fatalities. (Photo by LAUREN BOUCHER)

Speed and slick conditions appeared to have been contributing factors to a fatal accident that claimed the lives of two people Tuesday afternoon southwest of Greencastle.

Fatally injured in the 12:33 p.m. accident, authorities said Tuesday evening, were Anthony Vanatti, 21, Greencastle, and Kelcey Nicole Sullivan, 19, Terre Haute.

According to Cpl. Josh Boller of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, local crews were dispatched to the scene of the two-vehicle accident on Manhattan Road just north of Mt. Olive Road in Greencastle.

Boller advised that Gordon Shaw, 69, Greencastle, was southbound on Manhattan Road with his wife Jo Shaw, 72, in a Dodge Caravan when he noticed a Pontiac Grand Am start to lose control.

"Gordon said that he was coming southbound in their vehicle when they noticed a vehicle lose control," Boller said. "He actually didn't know if the vehicle made a complete circle or not. He said that they just lost control and went sliding sideways in front of them."

As a result of the Pontiac crossing left of center, the Shaws' van struck it broadside in the passenger side door.

Boller noted that it appears the vehicle may have fishtailed more than once, which reportedly caused the driver, identified as Sullivan, to overcorrect and thus lose control of the car before the collision.

"They never went off the road at all," he added.

Both Sullivan and Vanatti were found unconscious and unresponsive upon arrival of emergency personnel. Operation Life personnel pronounced them deceased at the scene.

The Shaws sustained minor injuries with Gordon complaining of left hand pain and Jo complaining of right hand pain. They were later transported from the scene by Operation Life ambulance to Putnam County Hospital.

Manhattan Road was closed between Limedale and Antioch Church for an extended period of time before being reopened at 3:30 p.m.

Assisting at the accident scene were personnel from the Greencastle Police Department, the Greencastle Fire Department and the Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department.