Cloverdale man dies following two-vehicle collision on Sunday

The Cloverdale Township Fire Department was kept busy on Sunday afternoon after slick conditions led to several motor vehicle accidents, including a fatality on U.S. 231, as well as several car pile-ups on Interstate 70. The Cloverdale Rescue 71 truck (above) was also rear-ended as it responded to the scene of an accident Sunday afternoon on Interstate 70.

A fatality along with several other accidents were attributed to the rapidly falling temperatures, which turned previously wet roads into ice on Sunday evening.

According to Putnam County Sheriff Scott Stockton, local law enforcement personnel were called to the scene of a two-vehicle accident on U.S. 231 and U.S. 40 at 4:30 p.m.

Stockton advised that John Starr, 60, Cloverdale, was traveling southbound on U.S. 231 in a Chevrolet Tracker when he lost control as he approached U.S. 40 due to the icy roadway. Starr then traveled into the northbound lanes, crossing into the path of Timonty Helton Jr., 35, Cloverdale, who was driving a Ford F350.

"The driver didn't have any escape to avoid hitting the vehicle," Stockton added.

Both Star and Helton were transported to Putnam County Hospital via Operation Life, where Starr later succumbed to his injuries. Helton, along with his father Timothy Helton Sr., 55, Cloverdale, were treated for minor injuries and released.

The area just north of U.S. 40 was shut down for some time during clean-up and was reopened by officials at 5:10 p.m.

Also assisting at the scene was the Greencastle Fire Department, Cloverdale Township Fire Department, Indiana DNR and the Indiana State Police.

The Cloverdale Township Fire Department Rescue 71 truck was also struck from behind at an accident scene on Interstate 70 near 38-mile marker as it was assisting with a property-damage crash in the median.

According to Fire Chief Kerry Shepherd and Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts, the Rescue 71 crew were still seatbelted within the truck when they were struck by Blake Rattray, 22, Fishers, while in the eastbound lanes responding to an accident scene.

"Trooper Mike Wood responded to a multi-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of I-70 near the 38-mile marker, where 22-year-old Blake Rattray of Fishers, failed to stop for a Cloverdale Fire Rescue vehicle that was stopped in the passing lane with emergency lights in operation," Watts said. "Rattray's 2007 Ford Fusion struck the rear of the 2004 Ford F550 rescue vehicle in the rear, causing the it to catch fire. Cloverdale fire units quickly extinguished the blaze, but the Fusion was a total loss."

Rattray was said to be shaken up, but refused medical treatment from personnel.

The Cloverdale Township Fire Department responded to several accidents due to the slick road conditions throughout the day, including two accident scenes involving five vehicles and another involving seven vehicles.

The seven vehicle crash on Interstate 70 near the 41-mile marker was investigated by Indiana State Police Trooper Kyle Hall. Hall noted that during the Ronda Marsh, 42, Terre Haute, was ejected and later transported to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of leg and internal injuries. None of the other drivers was injured.

Indiana State Police also advised troopers from its Putnamville Post responded to various calls for service late Sunday fternoon with thet majority of the calls being on Interstate 70 from the 10-mile marker to the 43-mile marker.

According to ISP Sgt. Watts, there were a total of five property-damage crashes, four personal injury crashes and eight vehicle slide-offs, which were responded to by troopers.