North Putnam mourning teacher killed in wreck

Sunday, September 9, 2007
The United Way of Putnam County will kick-off its 2007-08 annual campaign this week, and Mayor Nancy Michael has proclaimed Friday as United Way Day in the City of Greencastle. The campaign kicks off with breakfast at 8 a.m. Friday at the Walden Inn. With Michael (center) in signing the proclamation are Executive Director Cathryn Ensley (right) and Board of Directors President Josh Richardson. For more information on the campaign, contact the United Way at 653-5638 or unitedway@airhop.com.

BAINBRIDGE -- The North Putnam community is mourning the death of a middle school teacher killed Saturday in an auto accident in Hendricks County.

Lora Haskell, 30, Avon, died Saturday after the minivan she was driving was hit by an oncoming vehicle on Ind. 39 north of Interstate 70.

Haskell has taught language arts at North Putnam Middle School for four years.

"It's a tragic situation," Supt. Murray Pride told the BannerGraphic Sunday evening, "and we're certainly extending our sympathy to her family."

Counselors will be at the middle school and high school on Monday to assist students in dealing with the loss of their teacher. Pride said students in seventh grade through their sophomore year will have been taught by Haskell. Some area clergy members will also be available to talk to students and staff.

Haskell was transported from the accident scene to Hendricks Regional Health in Danville where she was pronounced dead.

Her infant son Asa was a passenger in the minivan. He was buckled into a carseat, and was transported to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis for treatment. He was later released.

The accident occurred around 7:50 p.m. about one mile north of I-70.

Deputy Brett Clark of the Hendricks County Sheriff's Dept. reports that Haskell was driving north in the 1998 Ford Windstar when she lost control of the vehicle and it went left of center, spinning counter-clockwise in the road. The minivan was hit in the passenger side by a southbound 2007 Pontiac driven by Andrea Shrake, 24, Mooresville.

Clark said the wet road surface may have contributed to the accident. A heavy rain had fallen in the area earlier in the day, but at the time of the accident it was not believed to be raining.

Both Haskell and Shrake were wearing seatbelts. Shrake suffered a possible broken ankle and was taken to Hendricks Regional Health for treatment.

North Putnam administrators planned to talk with staff members prior to the start of school Monday and then make the announcement to students in the morning.

"You hope these things never happen," Pride said. "but we will get people together and get through this as best we can."

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  • This is such sad news. My children have Mrs. Haskell and loved her so much as a teacher. My thoughts and Prayers go out to her family as well as to our community that has had to suffer a tragic loss to a great teacher.

    -- Posted by bratin73 on Mon, Sep 10, 2007, at 8:32 AM
  • we all at north putnam middle and high school that knew mrs. haskell will be missing her and we will keep her family and we will pray for them. she was a loving and a teacher who cared about every one around her.

    WE WILL MISS YOU MRS. HASKELL

    -- Posted by dalmation_honey on Mon, Sep 10, 2007, at 3:42 PM
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