Clay County man dies in overnight car crash

A Center Point man died Thursday night as the result of an apparent drunken driving accident on Putnam County Road 600 West near the Interstate 70 underpass.

Farrell D. Burton, 32, was pronounced dead by medics at the scene shortly after 11 p.m., according to an accident report from the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

The vehicle, according to Deputy Ed Wilson, was traveling at a high rate of speed on CR 600 West when it left the roadway and struck two trees. Burton was partially ejected from the driver's side window and sustained head injuries, Wilson said.

It was not apparent from the accident report whether Burton's two passengers, Larry Evens Jr., Indianapolis, and Wesley Dale Appollos, Center Point sustained any injuries in the crash.

Appollos was arrested at the scene on a warrant from another county. He was booked into the Putnam County Jail early this morning.

All three men, according to Wilson's report, tested positive for alcohol.

Burton was given a blood test and showed an alcohol content of .27.

Appollos was given a breath test and registered at .268 while Evens registered at .167, according to the accident report.

In Indiana, the legal limit for alcohol is .08.

Burton was driving a 1989 GMC Sierra pickup and was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the the accident report.

The passengers in Burton's vehicle told emergency personnel that they thought he was unconscious, but when medics arrived at the scene shortly after 11 p.m., they determined the man was actually deceased.