*Menu
Search
Greencastle Banner Graphic

Inman at home recovering from injuries

Thursday, October 23, 2014
By LAUREN BOUCHER, Staff Writer

More than 24 hours after being struck by a car while off duty Wednesday evening, 14-year Greencastle Police Department veteran Sgt. Charles "Skip" Inman is home recuperating with his family.

Sgt. Charles "Skip" Inman

Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene on Shadowlawn Drive at 5:50 p.m. after Inman was struck by a vehicle while mowing his yard.

According to Investigating Officer Kyle Lee, Helen M. Williams, 81, Greencastle, was traveling westbound on Shadowlawn Drive at approximately 30-miles per hour when the sun got into her eyes, causing her to veer off the road nearly three feet before striking Inman in the middle of his back with the passenger-side mirror of her 2000 Chrysler minivan.

"He was in so much pain I couldn't really talk to him," Lee added. "He didn't see it coming."

Due to the nature of Inman's injuries, Operation Life transported him to Hendricks Regional Health in Danville where he underwent a series of tests. Inman said he was taken to Hendricks Regional Health due to it having an orthopedic center, which Putnam County Hospital does not offer.

"We were informed by the medics that we were going to Hendricks due to it having an orthopedic center that Putnam County Hospital does not have," Charles explained. "I have plenty of faith in Putnam County Hospital."

Inman's wife Megan noted that while in the hospital, a number of Greencastle Police Department officers gathered with Inman and his family to show their support.

Inman was later released from Hendricks Regional Health at 9:45 p.m. after doctors found no serious injuries.

"He's sore," Megan said. "It's going to be a rough few days. He has a contusion and deep bruising, along with swollen areas, scrapes and cuts."

Sgt. Inman informed the Banner Graphic Thursday evening that he was still in some pain, but thankful things did not turn out worse.

"The outpouring support from the community has been unreal," he said.

Personnel from the Greencastle Police Department, Greencastle Fire Department and DePauw University Police all responded to the scene.

Comments
View 30 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

  • Praying for you Skip!

    -- Posted by hopperbc on Wed, Oct 22, 2014, at 8:25 PM

  • Hoping for a speedy recovery brother!

    -- Posted by Geologist on Wed, Oct 22, 2014, at 8:55 PM

  • Best wishes for a speedy recovery Officer Inman

    -- Posted by N. Putnam resident on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 12:01 AM

  • Why Hendricks hospital? Why not Putnam hospital?

    -- Posted by Hazel on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 6:37 AM

  • Again. Why not Putnam County Hospital???? The first, closest and best place to start. Come on officers.

    -- Posted by Nit on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 7:53 AM

  • Says something for you when the public officials won't take someone to PCH.

    -- Posted by Bored-n-Gcastle2 on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 8:23 AM

  • My doctor is in Danville so I would go to Hendricks...maybe it's the same for Officer Inman.

    -- Posted by Mom2U4Now on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 10:31 AM

  • Really? Can't believe everyone is complaining about what hospital the officer or his family chose to go to. PC Hospital is a bandaide hospital. Best care is out of the county. If his injuries were not life threatening I think the family made the right choice on the decision to go to Hendricks Co.

    -- Posted by small town girl on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 10:34 AM

  • Really? You think Hendricks is better????????? What a joke.

    -- Posted by Hazel on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 11:17 AM

  • Just a reminder that your family doctor does not care for you when you are in an accident. Also, your health insurancde will not cover the cost. It is covered by the woman's auto insurance. So once again, why would Putnam County's Operation Life take a Greencastle policeman to a hospital in another county? If one county cannot handle the injuries then the other couldn't and one would need to go to Indy to get better care.

    -- Posted by Hazel on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 11:30 AM

  • Why not Hendricks Hazel?

    A person, not matter who they are or what their job is, has a right to choose where they want medical treatment. Personally I would choose Hendricks for a multitude of reasons, but the first one I can think of is that you are that much closer to Indy if you need transported.

    -- Posted by momofboys on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 1:20 PM

  • This hospital conversation would be a good topic for The Pulse...

    Frankly, I'm just happy Skip going to be OK.

    -- Posted by localman on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 1:47 PM

  • I don't know what The Pulse is, lol... and probably a good thing.

    Glad he's going to be ok too (and we can probably attribute this to his great care at Hendricks) :)

    -- Posted by momofboys on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 1:51 PM

  • Stable patients are transported to the hospital of their choice. Given the circumstance of a vehicle vs a pedestrian -he should've been transported to the nearest ACS certified trauma center in accordiance with the Indiana Trauma Rule. Patients should be transported to the nearest appropriate facility for their condition. PCH is a Critical Access Hospital. The majority of patients will be transfered for definitive care. Patients end up with a delay in specialty care and multiple bills by going to PCH first in acute situations.

    -- Posted by jorge on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 4:55 PM

  • I don't know what all the hype over the hospital is but thank God the Office is okay praying for speedy recovery.praying for you and your family

    -- Posted by a greencastle citizen on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 5:32 PM

  • Why does anyone care what hospital he chose. It's his choice. Just like all of you would have a choice as well.

    -- Posted by IamSecond on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 8:34 PM

  • Putnam County Hospital is a bandage station. He needed more than a bandage. Would never go there again. Only if I was already dead.

    -- Posted by dumpsterdiva2 on Thu, Oct 23, 2014, at 8:44 PM

  • SKIP,Happy to hear it wasn't more serious! I will confine to keep you and your family in my prayers. Best wishes on a speedy recovery!

    -- Posted by TruTexan on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 1:00 AM

  • hope you will feel better soon

    -- Posted by cgolda on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 5:03 AM

  • I'll never go back to PCH. Had to wait 3 1/2 hours to get an employee into emergency room for a steam burn. Another friend had a motorcycle wreck, and the ER Doctor/nurses failed to pull all the debris out of the wound before closing it up. Was infected within 2-3 days. Guess where they went to have it re-opened and cleaned up. Hendricks County. Inman was smart.

    -- Posted by Altraternative on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 5:57 AM

  • Any Joe Blow cannot tell the ambulance where to take them. ASK them!

    -- Posted by Hazel on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 6:36 AM

  • Give it a rest - he was taken to Hendricks because he needed to be treated at an orthopedic center and PCH doesn't have one.

    Best wishes for a speedy recovery Skip!

    -- Posted by Geologist on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 8:29 AM

  • Maybe while you had to wait so long was because they were saving someone's life which is a little more important than a steam burn. Also, no one ever has had to wait at ANY hospital for 3 hours to be seen but if you say so why didn't you go on to Hemdricks County? Office Inman, I do not know you but cheers to you for a speedy recovery. To all others including myself -- it is none of our business!!!!!

    luding myself: it is none our business.

    -- Posted by Nit on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 8:42 AM

  • I have been treated in the PCH emergency room many times and have yet to experience anything but professional efficient service with no bad outcomes. I'm not sure why this person went to Hendricks and it's none of my business.

    Keep up the good work PCH.

    -- Posted by Opinion2 on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 9:04 AM

  • The most important thing to remember is that the officer is doing well and recovering. The hospital he was taken to is nothing that should be discussed without us knowing the details of the situation.We cannot assume that the medics did not take the officer to PCH because he would receive poor care. That is unfair and irresponsible Personally, I have always received excellent care at PCH. The staff is incredible. Small town hospitals often get stereotyped as a 'bandage station', but Putnam County is very lucky to have a hospital that is honestly more than that. Our community is stronger than this. Let's pull together and be thankful the officer will recover and our medics made the right decision.

    -- Posted by smartmom2 on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 9:25 AM

  • I have had the privilege to do business with numerous staff members at PCH and personally haven't met a more professional group of individuals. I love how the "internet trollers" wait for any opportunity to voice their opinions, most of which are unsubstantiated. The people of Putnam County are lucky to have immediate care here at their disposal. I'm thankful to have them so close to where I work. I know if something would happen to me, that I would be in good hands. Thank you PCH and get well soon Skip!

    -- Posted by wheels2 on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 10:41 AM

  • Ask residents of Owen or Parke County how they like their local hospital! Guess what, they have to go out of county as they don't have one. The honest reason he and his family, as well as the medics, chose to go to Hendricks Regional was stated not once but twice in the article. I can only assume that the ones making these ridiculous comments can't read. The main concern here is for the well being of Skip, as well as for the elderly lady that hit him. Come on, show some compassion!

    -- Posted by gustave&zelma on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 11:35 AM

  • I still think people should use their real names if they want to make stupid or correct remarks. Be thankful you have someone to help this close!

    -- Posted by jbastian on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 12:53 PM

  • My comments have nothing to do about any one particular person it's an observation of who is special and who is not because of what they do for a living.

    -- Posted by Hazel on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 2:21 PM

  • Hazel, if it had been you in that accident with those same needs for an orthopedic center, you too would have been taken to Hendricks. All of the Operation Life paramedics I have worked with have always provided the appropriate care and transported their patients to the facility appropriate for their needs. They do this for all patients, not just those perceived as special by people like you.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Fri, Oct 24, 2014, at 4:07 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: