Mother, grandmother injured in car-truck crash

Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Emergency personnel work on extricating the occupants in a two-vehicle collision Monday on U.S. 231 near Somerset Church.

A two-vehicle accident Monday morning sent three Putnam County residents to the hospital.

Indiana State Trooper Chris Harcourt told the BannerGraphic that at 10:04 a.m., dispatch called in a report of a vehicle accident at the intersection of U.S. 231 and CR 500 North with occupants possibly trapped inside.

When he arrived on the scene at 10:05 a.m., Harcourt found one vehicle located in the yard of the Somerset Christian Church and the other partially in the roadway of the northbound lane.

Harcourt said that Marie N. Hellman, 21, Bainbridge, driving a 1997 Chevy Cavalier, was traveling westbound on CR 500 North, approaching U.S. 231. Hellman was attempting to turn southbound and failed to yield to James C. Taylor, 71, Bainbridge, driving a 1996 Chevy Truck Z71, who was traveling north on U.S. 231.

Harcourt also said that Hellman said she thought she had enough time to make the turn.

Hellman sustained a broken leg from the accident, while her mother, Rebecca Hellman, 43, had a bruise on her leg. Hellman's one-month-old infant was also inside the vehicle.

Harcourt said the child safety seat was effective in reducing injury to the infant, and its use was a prime example of how car safety seats save lives.

Hellman, her mother and her infant child were transported to Putnam County Hospital by Operation Life.

Damages were estimated at $10,000 to $15,000.

Assisting Harcourt and OL at the scene were the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, the State Highway Department, Bainbridge Fire Department, Greencastle Fire Department, Steve's Wrecking Service and Kenny's Bainbridge Auto.

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