One dies in Sunday motorcycle crash

Monday, May 21, 2007

A Greencastle man died and his female passenger was injured in a motorcycle accident near Fillmore Sunday afternoon.

Police said William Bartley and a female passenger, Holly Seeman, both of Greencastle, were traveling on CR 300 East, north of CR 50 South (Fillmore Road) when the bike veered into a ditch and struck a street sign.

Bartley died in the crash and Seeman was transported by helicopter from the scene.

Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Doug Nally was at the scene and said he was not able to determine why the bike veered off the roadway. He was not able to obtain very much information from Seeman before she was airlifted from the scene.

The Greencastle Fire Department was among several agencies dispatched to the scene at around 5:30 p.m.

Fire Chief Bill Newgent said he could see tracks in the grass where it appeared the motorcycle left the road and traveled down the ditch before striking a "bicycle crossing" sign.

Nally said he estimated the motorcycle had traveled about 180 feet down the ditch before impacting the sign and crashing. Seeman landed about 40 feet from Bartley.

Also on scene were Operation Life, Fillmore Fire Department and Greencastle Police.

GFD cleared the scene shortly before 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, other serious accidents this weekend kept officials in the county busy.

Six people were injured in a two-vehicle crash on CR 200 East near CR 800 North at 10:40 p.m. Friday.

Sgt. Tom Helmer reported that Kadi M. Holden, 24, Indianapolis, was driving a northbound 1998 Ford Escort when her vehicle went left of center in the curve and she collided head-on with an oncoming 1988 Ford Crown Victoria driven by Adam W. Ray, 22, Cloverdale.

Ray said as he negotiated a curve he heard "squealing tires" and felt the impact.

Holden was transported to Putnam County Hospital with a complaint of abdominal pain. Passenger Stacey Jones, 25, Roachdale, sustained a chest injury.

Passengers Dakota Jones, 8, Dylan Jones, 5, and Aliyah Kirby, 5, all of Indianapolis, were also injured and were taken to Hendricks Regional Health for treatment.

Ray was taken to PCH via Operation Life ambulance for treatment of a leg injury.

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

Assisting Helmer at the scene were Deputy Josh Boller, Bainbridge Officer Mike Mahoy and Roachdale firefighters.

Then at 5:20 p.m. Saturday, one person was injured when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck on U.S. 231 at Ind. 42 south of Cloverdale.

Deputy Josh Boller reported that Kyle W. Lehr, 18, Paragon, was driving west in a 1991 Ford Ranger when he stopped at the intersection and looked for traffic. He started to cross the highway when his truck was hit on the passenger side by a southbound 2006 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Steven N. Schneblin, 65, Spencer.

Schneblin, was ejected from the vehicle and complained of leg pain. He was airlifted via LifeLine helicopter to Methodist Hospital for treatment.

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

Finally, at 10:25 a.m. Saturday, one person was injured in a one-vehicle accident on CR 125 South near CR 450 West.

Deputy Gregg Slover reported that William R. Higgenbotham, 60, 40 Cedardwood Drive, Greencastle, was driving west in a 1997 Ford Ranger when his vehicle went off the road, hit an embankment and rolled onto its side. He was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was airlifted to Wishard Memorial Hospital with chest injuries. He was listed in stable condition on Monday morning.

Assisting Slover at the scene was Sgt. Don Pettit. Damage was estimated at $2,500-$5,000.

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