North Putnam mourning teacher killed in wreck
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."