1 dead, 2 injured in crash

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

BAINBRIDGE -- A Rockville man was killed and two other men were injured in a head-on collision Tuesday afternoon on U.S. 36 near CR 100 East.

Billy Thompson, 63, was pronounced dead at the scene by Putnam County Coroner Thomas Miller. The crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m.

His passenger, Ronald Martin, Rockville, sustained injuries including a broken leg and was airlifted to Wishard Memorial Hospital, Indianapolis.

Thompson and Martin were heading west in a 1999 Mercury Sable when, according to witnesses, the car drifted left across the center line.

Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Doug Nally reported the car was almost completely in the eastbound lane when it collided with a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Roy Poynter, Bainbridge. Poynter sustained leg injuries and was taken to Hendricks Regional Health, Danville, for treatment.

Nally said it is unknown why the car drifted into the other lane, but he said he does not believe alcohol or speed were factors. Thompson and Martin, who is Thompson's son-in-law, were on their way home from work at the time of the crash.

The impact destroyed both vehicles, Nally said, and all three occupants had to be extricated from the vehicles by Roachdale and Bainbridge volunteer firefighters.

Thompson was wearing a seatbelt and an airbag did deploy, the deputy said, but the man sustained massive internal injuries.

The highway was closed for up to 90 minutes while emergency personnel were at the scene.

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