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Off-duty deputy locates man wrecked in ravine
PUTNAMVILLE — Off duty at the time, a Putnam County sheriff’s deputy nonetheless answered the call of duty following a single-vehicle accident Sunday evening.
Injured, trapped in his car and unsure of his location, a Terre Haute man called his wife when he wrecked on State Road 243 near the Deer Creek bridge just south of U.S. 40 around 6 p.m.
Traveling on a downhill curve, 34-year-old Aaron M. Fry missed the turn and his 2007 Saturn Ion left the roadway, sliding off the road and down a steep embankment in the wooded area.
Fry’s wife arrived on the scene and was driving along 243 frantically looking for him. Unfortunately, the vehicle was far enough into the ravine that it could not be seen from the road.
At this time Deputy Scott Ducker, who was off duty at the time, was also traveling on SR243 and was flagged down by Fry’s wife.
Ducker was able to assist and quickly locate the vehicle while radioing for assistance. On-duty law enforcement, fire and EMS quickly arrived.
These responders were able to extricated Fry and taken him to the hospital for treatment.
Deputy Robert Soilleux led the investigation, with assistance from the Cloverdale Police Department, Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department and Putnam County Operation Life.
The car was retrieved from the ravine and towed by Curtis Garage and Wrecker Service.
Soilleux estimated damage at $5,000-$10,000.
A statement from the department emphasized that Ducker’s response is indicative of what is expected of all deputies.
“Your Putnam County Deputies regularly assist the public and other emergency responders off-duty,” the department said via its Facebook page. “Deputies all have take-home cars that they utilize. When driving their patrol cars, deputies are required to keep necessary equipment in the car, be armed, have their police radio on and be ready to respond to any nearby emergency.”