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Police respond to two crashes in Putnam County
Local emergency agencies worked a pair of serious crashes in Putnam County over the weekend.
At 4:37 Sunday, Indiana State Police and Putnam County emergency agencies responded to a two-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of U.S. 40 at County Road 525 East in Mount Meridian.
Preliminary investigation revealed a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro driven by 26-year-old Jarrod E. Otter of Avon was southbound on 525 East, stopped at the stop sign, then drove onto U.S. 40, striking a westbound 2003 Hyundai Sonata driven by 40-year-old Ronald C. Whistler of Brazil.
Three underage passengers in the Whistler vehicle were injured: Rylan Whistler, age 12, who was treated at the scene for neck pain and released; Braddock Whistler, age 15, was transported by Putnam County Operation Life to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for possible head injury; and Cameron Whistler, age 5, was transported to Putnam County Hospital with a lower leg injury.
Ronald C. Whistler was cited for two child restraint violations and Jarrod Otter was cited for failure to yield the right of way.
The crash was investigated by ISP Trooper David Cox Jr. Assisting were Trooper Jonathan Cumbie, Cloverdale Police Officers Hoppus and Eagan, Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Adam Hull, Putnam County Operation Life, and Jefferson Township Fire/Rescue.
On Saturday at 10:44 p.m., Indiana State Police and Putnam County emergency agencies responded to the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 33-mile marker for a report of a one-vehicle crash with injuries.
Investigation revealed a 2002 Toyota passenger car driven by 54-year-old Melvin Warren of Cloverdale was eastbound on I-70 and left the roadway, traveling into the median. The Toyota began to spin striking the guardrail and finally the cable barriers.
Warren and his passenger, 48-year-old Hope Cochran of Cloverdale, were extricated from the vehicle and both airlifted to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis.
Warren was reportedly in serious condition with a suspected spinal injury and Cochran was reportedly released late Sunday afternoon after receiving treatment for a head laceration.
The crash was investigated by ISP Trooper Jonathan Cumbie. Assisting were Troopers David Cox Jr. and Nick Sturgeon, Cloverdale Police Officers Hoppus and Eagan, Cloverdale Fire/Rescue, Putnam County Operation Life, and Lifeline air ambulance and AirEvac air ambulance.
Traffic was slow in the area for about two hours, but only shut down for 30 minutes to allow the air ambulances to load patients.