Greencastle woman killed in 231 semi collision

Courtesy Putnam County Sheriff's Department

A Greencastle woman died Monday afternoon when a semi lost control on Waterworks Hill and collided with the Jeep she was driving.

Julie Cox, 60, was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck on U.S. 231 north of Greencastle.

Rain had been falling for much of the day leading up to the incident. The driver of the tractor-trailer, Jeffrey A. Shane of Columbus, told Putnam County sheriff’s Deputy Scott Ducker he pressed his brakes as he approached the Big Walnut Creek Bridge and lost control.

The semi, whose trailer bore the name Columbus Container Inc., slid sideways, taking up all lanes of traffic.

Cox had been northbound when the semi entered her lane of travel. With a steep incline immediately to the east of the road, there was no way for her to avoid the impact.

Ducker reported that the semi appeared to have run completely over the top of the Jeep.

The smaller vehicle was crushed from the impact, trapping Cox inside.

Responders from the Greencastle Fire Department had to cut the vehicle apart, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shane was uninjured.

U.S. 231 was closed in both directions for several hours, reopening after 8 p.m.

Even then, investigators remained on scene, as Indiana State Police performed an accident reconstruction.