Four men die in crash

Four men from Owen County were killed in a single-car accident that occurred near the town of Cunot this weekend.

Listed as dead in the Saturday-morning crash at 4234 E. Ind. 42 were Joseph Allen Shoopman, 22, Thomas Dewayne Shoopman, 23, Floyd Allen Zook Jr., 25, and Richard E. Green, 40.

All four were from the town of Poland in Owen County.

Autopsy results, which would include toxicology, were not available Monday morning, however, officials with the Owen County Sheriff's Department said officers at the scene smelled alcohol in the vehicle.

The red Chevrolet Beretta was registered to Green who officials believe was the one driving.

Cloverdale Township volunteer firefighters were called to assist at the scene shortly before 2 a.m.

When they arrived, Fire Chief Kerry Shepherd observed the car lodged between several trees. The occupants were partially ejected and all were deceased.

"It was an awful scene to come upon," Shepherd said. "It's pretty rare that all four people are killed."

Cloverdale Township firefighters assisted Cataract firefighters along with Owen County Emergency Medical Service and Sheriff's Department in removing the victims and clearing up the scene. Ind. 42 was closed for more than three hours after the accident.

Joseph Shoopman was a forklift operator at Wal-Mart Distribution in Greencastle. His funeral has been set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Whitaker Funeral Home in Cloverdale with visitation from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. (See obituaries on page 10A.)

His brother Thomas Shoopman will have the same funeral and visitation times.

Zook's funeral is 7 p.m. Wednesday at Whitaker Funeral Home in Cloverdale. Visitation is 4 p.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.

Green's funeral is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Whitaker Funeral home with visitation at 5 p.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home.