Two airlifted following Wednesday-afternoon crash

Wednesday, December 27, 2017 ~ Updated 2:36 PM

Three people were hospitalized following a Wednesday-afternoon crash on U.S. 231 near the entrance to the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

Witnesses at the scene reported that a Ford Explorer driven southbound by Brandy Birge of Greencastle drifted into the northbound lane.

In doing so, the SUV crossed into the path of a Ford F-series Super Duty driven northbound by Dennis Nemeth of Rockville.

Courtesy Putnam County Sheriff's Department

Birge’s vehicle made heavy impact to the left front of Nemeth’s truck, spinning the SUV back into the southbound lane, where it came to rest against the guardrail.

Sheriff Scott Stockton told the Banner Graphic the challenge for Greencastle Fire Department responders was extricating Birge from her vehicle, as it was crushed agains the guardrail, along with heavy interior damage.

The first police units arrived on scene at 3:19 p.m., and Birge was not successfully extricated until 4:11 p.m.

Birge was flown to St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, by Stat Flight helicopter.

Nemeth’s wife was also airlifted from the scene and transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Dennis Nemeth was also transported to Methodist by Operation Life ambulance.

U.S. 231 was closed from the time of the accident until around 4:45 as crews worked to extricate Birge and clean up the scene.

Deputy Scott Ducker investigated the accident, assisted by Sheriff Stockton and Indiana State Police.

Indiana Department of Transportation crews also responded to divert traffic.

Comments

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Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

I hope someone can check Birge's cell phone to see if she was texting, etc. You cannot drift if you are paying attention to what you are doing!!!

-- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Wed, Dec 27, 2017, at 7:24 PM
donantonioelsabio, they just got flown to a hospital... Is it okay if we can at least give them a band-aid before throwing gas on their town square stakes?

And for whatever it's worth, I doubt it's impossible to find a road anywhere outside right now that you could fishtail on. I mean, it's only December with a sweltering 7 degrees worth of warmth right now.

-- Posted by DouglasQuaid on Wed, Dec 27, 2017, at 7:58 PM
Such a horrible crude statement to be made by anyone!! Of course one could sneeze,etc and have attention deferred for that one split second. But instead of much needed prayers, some people can only make negative comments. Prayers to all involved.

-- Posted by Nit on Wed, Dec 27, 2017, at 8:35 PM
Donantonioelsabio -Such a horrible crude statement to be made by anyone when a young ladies life is at stake. Of course one could sneeze,etc and have attention deferred for that one split second. But instead of much needed prayers, some people can only make negative comments. Prayers to all involved.

-- Posted by Nit on Wed, Dec 27, 2017, at 8:39 PM
prayers for all involved- it was an ACCIDENT

-- Posted by small town fan on Thu, Dec 28, 2017, at 7:56 AM
Love and prayers to the Jones and Birge families.

-- Posted by Donna Ford on Thu, Dec 28, 2017, at 8:37 AM
Maybe my comment was "crude and insensitive" but, every where I go I always see people-young and old-on a cell phone while they are driving. If, and I say "if", this young lady was on her cell phone and caused this accident wouldn't she be crude and insensitive of the other drivers on the same road??? Look at the injuries that were caused. No one needed this on that day.

I have driven down water-works hill thousands of times in all kinds of weather and I have never "drifted" across the center line because I paid attention to what was going on. Every where I go I see all kinds of people-young and old- on cell phones while driving. This craziness needs to stop.

-- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Thu, Dec 28, 2017, at 11:02 AM
Sorry - I am not trying to be difficult in my comments. I agree 100% that the cell phone issue has to stop - I myself am a very cautious driver and always feel that I pay attention. I also hope and pray that your attention may never be diverted at any time while you are behind the wheel. But accidents do happen!! In this instant I just feel it is wrong to make accusations when NO ONE knows what happened. We are not the ones to judge others. Continued prayers for all involved.

-- Posted by Nit on Thu, Dec 28, 2017, at 11:47 AM
Texting had nothing to do with this accident. I was there and assisted. It was a completely preventable accident, but instead of playing "what-if"'s and shoulda-coulda, maybe just be glad that things were not worse and just pray for those involved and their families while keeping your ignorant (as in you don't know) comments to yourself.

-- Posted by FLAG on Thu, Dec 28, 2017, at 12:33 PM
Praying for all

-- Posted by cgolda on Fri, Dec 29, 2017, at 9:01 AM
OK, Colonel FLAG, what was the cause of the accident since you were privy to know?? There are no "ignorant" comments involving preventable accidents. It is very sad that people were hurt on a cold winter day and caused many to be delayed in their travels.

Pray tell, FLAG, what exactly caused her to "drift" across the center line? Going too fast to negotiate the curve?? Too many unanswered questions.

-- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Fri, Dec 29, 2017, at 10:01 AM
^ Why don't you stop trying to speculate about the cause of this accident? A car can drift over a center line for many reasons other than driver error, such as a medical issue, mechanical failure, or rapidly changing weather conditions to name a few.

There is a time and a place to talk about distracted or reckless driving, and commenting to this story is neither the time nor the place. Give it a rest please.

-- Posted by Koios on Fri, Dec 29, 2017, at 11:06 AM
Thank you for your comments erjvh

-- Posted by Nit on Fri, Dec 29, 2017, at 3:00 PM
prayers for all involved- it was an ACCIDENT

Posted by small town fan

What the heck does that mean? That she didn't choose to swerve into the other lane and hit the other driver head on?? Yeah... that's probably the case but it doesn't mean there weren't preventable reasons that contributed to what happened.

-- Posted by conffool on Fri, Dec 29, 2017, at 9:10 PM