Crash leaves INDOT worker fatally injured

MORTON -- An accident Tuesday morning on U.S. 36 left one Indiana Department of Transportation worker fatally injured.

At 10:18 a.m. police were dispatched to U.S. 36 approximately one-half mile west of C.R. 600 West, just west of Union Chapel United Methodist Church.

A preliminary investigation revealed that INDOT workers were removing dirt and debris from the roadway edges as a preventative maintenance issue.

Eastbound traffic was stopped by the INDOT flagman Steven Overbay, 27, of Roachdale, when a Toyota Matrix driven by Cleve Scott, 79, of Rockville, failed to stop and veered right in an attempt to avoid a rear end collision with a Ford truck, which was already stopped.

"In doing so, the white Toyota struck the INDOT flagman, propelling him onto the hood of the car and partially through the windshield," explained Indiana State Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Joe Watts. "The flagman was standing on the south side of the roadway near the grass and not in the travel portion of the roadway."

Putnam County Deputy Coroner Stephen Caulkins pronounced the victim, an INDOT worker since 2007, dead at the scene.

The two passengers, traveling in the Toyota Matrix, Scott and his sister Aldene Smith, 75, of Rockville, were transferred via Operation Life to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Scott suffered from a fractured left arm, head and facial lacerations. Smith was uninjured.

"ISP investigators determined there were five signs deployed by INDOT to warn oncoming traffic of the flagman and construction," said Watts. "Mr. Overbay was wearing his required high visibility reflective vest at the time of impact."

The crash is under investigation by ISP Senior Trooper Jason Schoffstall and ISP Crash Re-constructionist Sergeant Jim Cody. Assisting were other ISP troopers, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Putnam County Coroner's Office, Putnam County Operation Life, Bainbridge Fire/Rescue and Roachdale PMH.

Although, Scott has not been formally charged. Under Indiana law, it is a Class C felony to strike and kill a highway worker, which is punishable with 2-8 years imprisonment and a maximum $10,000 fine.