Man extricated, taken to Indy following Friday morning crash
BAINBRIDGE --A 20-year-old Roachdale man was taken to an Indianapolis hospital Friday morning for injuries sustained in a one-vehicle crash.
Some time around 7 a.m., Jaron Berry was westbound on County Road 400 North in eastern Monroe Township when his 2002 Ford Mustang left the north side road for an unknown reason.
Capt. Tom Helmer of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department noted that the road was wet at the time.
After entering the ditch, the car crossed a ditch that caused it to become airborne. While in the air, the car hit a large tree.
This collision caused the vehicle to travel back across the road, where it came to rest on its top in the south ditch.
A call initially came in to Putnam County Dispatch at 7:06 a.m, but this only reported a "suspicious vehicle" in the roadway.
With Helmer and Capt. Steve Fenwick en route, a second call came in at 7:22 a.m., this time of an overturned vehicle in the ditch.
The officers arrive a short time later, finding a passerby trying to help, but the car was damaged so much that all Helmer could see of Berry was a foot.
Helmer classified Berry as "semi-responsive" throughout the incident.
Berry was extricated from the vehicle by Bainbridge Fire Department responders.
Two emergency medical helicopter services were contacted, but both declined to come due to the weather. Berry was then transported to Methodist Hospital by Operation Life, suffering from head injuries.
Besides the wet road, Helmer said he believes speed may have been a factor due to the height at which the car struck the tree and the amount of damage.