One airlifted following two-vehicle collision on U.S. 40

BRAZIL -- Two teenagers were seriously injured following a two-vehicle collision on Thursday afternoon on U.S. 40 near County Road 300 East just east of Great Dane Trailers.

Indiana State Police and Clay County emergency personnel were dispatched at 3:27 p.m. to a two-vehicle collision in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 40 where the preliminary investigation revealed that a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, driven by Austin W. Dean, 18, Knightsville, was eastbound on U.S. 40 near County Road 300 East.

Dean had attempted a left turn into the median crossover just west of C.R. 300 East and turned into the path of Edgar Ballenger, 48, Riley who was eastbound in a 2002 Freightliner dump truck.

"The dump truck and passenger car collided and came to final rest in the median," Sgt. Joe Watts of the Indiana State Police noted. "The dump truck was owned by Singhurse Trucking of Terre Haute was in the passing lane at the time of the crash."

A passenger in the Dean vehicle, Matthew Rutledge, 18, of Brazil, was airlifted by Air Evac to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis for leg injuries. Meanwhile, Dean was transported to St. Vincent Clay Hospital for head injuries. Ballenger was uninjured.

Dean was cited for unsafe movement from lane to lane.

It is said that alcohol and/or drugs does not appear to be a factor.

The crash was investigated by ISP 1st Sgt. Matt Mischler. Assisting at the scene were ISP Sgt. Cory Robinson, ISP Detective Tony Guinn, ISP Trooper Yan Dravigne, Clay County Sheriff's Office, Trans Care EMS, Van Buren Township Fire/Rescue and Air Evac air ambulance.