Motorcyclist dies fleeing police in Reelsville

Thursday, September 20, 2012 ~ Updated 11:27 PM

The 1996 Honda motorcycle driven by David L. Godsey of Brazil left U.S. 40 shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday evening, ejecting and killing Godsey and severely injuring passenger Jolene McCall. Godsey was fleeing police following an attempted traffic stop by a Brazil City Police officer.

REELSVILLE -- A Brazil man died Tuesday night after crashing his motorcycle while running from the Brazil City Police Department.

The crash occurred on U.S. 40 near County Road 625 West. The driver, 28-year-old David L. Godsey, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His passenger, 25-year-old Jolene D. McCall, of Terre Haute, was airlifted to Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, by AirEvac Helicopter. McCall was suffering from multiple life-threatening injuries.

As of Wednesday afternoon, McCall was still listed in critical condition.

At 9:49 p.m. a Brazil City Police officer attempted to stop a 1996 Honda RF 3 motorcycle eastbound on Pinckley Street near Murphy Avenue in Brazil for 57 mph in a 25-mph zone.

The motorcycle did not stop and continued eastbound at speeds near 100 mph, turning north onto County Road 200 East toward U.S. 40.

Godsey then turned the bike eastbound on U.S. 40 with Clay County Sheriff's deputies and Brazil City Police units in pursuit.

The chase continued into Putnam County, and at 9:55 p.m. Godsey lost control of the motorcycle and left the south side of the roadway.

Godsey and McCall were ejected from the cycle, with both riders striking a wooden fence and a drainage culvert.

The pursuit reportedly covered approximately 8.5 miles in just six minutes.

Neither rider was found wearing a helmet by medical personnel, although one helmet was found on the ground at the scene.

Putnam County Chief Deputy Coroner David Brown was on the scene and preliminarily determined Godsey died of blunt force trauma. Toxicology results are pending, and the driver did not have a valid Indiana driver's license.

The crash is under investigation by ISP Trooper Jonathan Cumbie. Assisting were the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Clay County Sheriff's Office, Brazil Police Department, Cloverdale Police Department, Putnam County Coroner's Office, Putnam County Operation Life, Washington Township Fire/Rescue and AirEvac Air Ambulance.

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More sad and tragic deaths on Putnam county roadways. We never know when death comes to each of us, but we can know where we want to spend eternity. Oh yes, there is an eternity waiting for us, but we can decide today where we want to spend it.

Where do you want to spend eternity dear reader?

-- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Wed, Sep 19, 2012, at 4:32 PM
Something as simple as "Dear Lord, please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. Amen" can get you into Heaven, no matter what you've done in the past. The only stipulation is, you must mean it.

-- Posted by My Dime on Tue, Sep 25, 2012, at 3:05 AM
What opportunity did the innocent passenger on the motorcycle have to surrender?

Chasing a motorcycle with a passenger on it is incredibly negligent by the police. There is a US Supreme Court case standing for that exact proposition.

-- Posted by reckman on Wed, Sep 26, 2012, at 9:31 AM

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