Putnam Scanner for Oct. 16, 2007

Monday, October 15, 2007

Sheriff's Dept.

Several accidents were investigated recently by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

* At 4:46 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8, a motorcycle struck the back of a car on CR 675 East near CR 200 North.

Deputy Ronnie Campbell reported that Nicole Gilbert, Coatesville, driving a 2002 Chevrolet van, was stopped over a hill and was waiting for a combine. Meanwhile, a 1997 Honda Shadow motorcycle, driven by Ronald Lyon, Coatesville, was approaching from behind and did not have enough time to stop. The driver was ejected from the motorcycle and the motorcycle collided with the back of the van.

Damage was estimated at $1,000-2,500.

* At 7:40 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, a car lost control on U.S. 40, near CR 500 West, crossed the center median and overturned in the opposite direction of the highway.

Courtney Daniels, Reelsville, driving a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer, told Deputy Don Lewis that she was eastbound and reached to turn on her windshield wiper when her wheels went off the ride side of the road. She overcorrected, causing the vehicle to veer across the median and flip over on the opposite lanes of the highway. She was treated for injuries at the scene by Reelsville firefighters.

Damage was estimated at $5,000-10,000.

* At 2:38 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12, a car struck and downed a power pole on East Fulton Street in Cloverdale.

Deputy Craig Sibbitt reported that Randall McDougall, driving a 1996 Plymouth van, was eastbound on Fulton Street when the vehicle left the roadway on the south side and struck a Duke Energy pole, causing it to fall on the vehicle. Both the driver and the passenger, Nicholas Shepherd, Cloverdale, ran from the scene, Sibbitt reported. Shepherd reportedly ran to his brother's home claiming to have been hit by a van, but later retracted his statement. He was transported to the hospital with head injuries. Power was out to the town for about five hours.

Damage was estimated at $10,000-25,000.

* At 6:38 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12, two cars collided at the intersection of U.S. 40 and 231.

Chief Deputy Virgil Lanning reported that James Marshall, Jasonville, driving a 2006 Dodge Stratus, was northbound on 231 approaching 40. Northbound traffic had a green light and he proceeded into the intersection. He said he observed a 1994 Plymouth Acclaim, driven by Earlene Griffith, Mooresville, turning left in front of him. He swerved to miss but still hit the driver's side door. Griffith stated that she was unfamiliar with the intersection and did not mean to turn in front of the other vehicle.

Damage was estimated at $1,000-2,500.

* At 4:35 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, a motorcycle lost control and went off U.S. 40 at CR 700 West.

The driver of the 2006 Harley Davidson, Justin Reuter, Indianapolis, could not comment after the crash, but a witness said it appeared the bike slipped off the side of the road and lost control, landing in the grassy median, according to Deputy Doug Nally's report.

Damage was estimated at $5,000-10,000.