Three people injured in single-vehicle ATV crash

Thursday, August 4, 2016
Three occupants were ejected from a Polaris RZR Wednesday night when the driver missed a curve near Boone-Hutcheson Cemetery and the vehicle flipped multiple times. The driver, Payton Pritchard, 25, Greencastle, was airlifted to St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, where he was listed in critical condition. (Courtesy of Reelsville Fire Department)

Three Putnam County residents were hospitalized Wednesday night following a single-vehicle ATV crash in Washington Township.

Several local agencies responded to an emergency call on County Road 450 West near Boone-Hutcheson Cemetery.

Payton Pritchard, 25, Logan Hedrick, 24, and Megan Hedrick, 23, all of Greencastle, were hospitalized after being ejected from a Polaris RZR.

Pritchard was airlifted by StatFlight to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis in critical condition.

On Thursday evening, a close friend of the family reported, "Payton is holding his own. His vitals are steady."

Doctors were keeping Pritchard sedated, so he had not regained consciousness. He remained listed in critical condition, with doctors saying they would know more 72 hours after the crash.

Putnam County Operation Life transported the Hedricks to Putnam County Hospital for minor injuries

According the Indiana Conservation Officers, who led the accident investigation, Pritchard was driving the RZR when he missed a curve, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway. All three riders were ejected from the vehicle, which overturned multiple times before landing on top of the driver.

Other responding agencies included Reelsville-Washington Township Fire Department and Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

No safety equipment was being utilized at the time of the crash.

Indiana Conservation Officers encourage anyone riding off-road vehicles to always wear helmets and protective clothing.

In the wake of the accident, a pair of fundraising efforts have been set up to benefit Pritchard, his girlfriend and their young child.

A GoFundMe page is available at www.gofundme.com/2hzj7a3s with a goal of raising $25,000. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, 25 donors had already raised more than $3,000 in four hours.

Anyone who makes a donation is also asked to send an email to pray4payt@gmail.com with contact information. The family would like the opportunity to reach out to donors at a later date.

Additionally, in a Thursday afternoon Facebook post, Brandi Baxter of Greencastle announced she has ordered 200 silicone awareness bracelets in John Deere green embossed with "Prayers for Payton." The bracelets are available for $5 each by contacting Baxter on Facebook.

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  • Rtv,not ATV. There's a huge difference.

    -- Posted by kubotafan on Fri, Aug 5, 2016, at 7:26 PM
  • Thanks, kubotafan, that was keeping me awake at night. How about some concern for Payton instead?

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Sun, Aug 7, 2016, at 9:27 AM
  • Carelessness comes to mind. Now all families involved are suffering.

    -- Posted by kubotafan on Sun, Aug 7, 2016, at 3:50 PM
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