Menu
Putnam County accidents few in year’s first snowfall
While Putnam County pretty well dodged a weather bullet Thursday, and as a result of that, even weather-related accidents were at a minimum locally.
Perhaps the most serious came about 3 p.m. Thursday when Indiana State Police and Putnam County emergency agencies responded to a one-vehicle crash on County Road 525 East, just south of U.S. 40.
The one-car crash injured the driver and caused damage to a utility pole and power lines.
Preliminary investigation revealed a 1994 Honda passenger car, driven by 33-year-old Britany S. Alexander of Poland, was northbound on County Road 525 East in Jefferson Township and failed to successfully negotiate a left curve in the roadway. Her vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole, coming to final rest in a private yard.
Impact of the collision with the utility pole caused power lines to separate from the pole and fall to the ground.
Alexander was taken to Putnam County Hospital for treatment of leg and neck pain, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported.
The accident was investigated by ISP Trooper John Myers. Assisting were Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies and personnel from Putnam County Operation Life and the Fillmore Fire Department.
About 3:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities were reporting two additional Putnam County mishaps -- a slide-off near the 45-mile marker of eastbound Interstate 70 and a property-damage accident near the Cloverdale exit at the 41-mile marker of eastbound I-70. No further details were available Thursday night on those accidents.
Meanwhile, between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, troopers from the ISP Putnamville Post responded to two disabled vehicles, 10 vehicle slide-offs, and seven vehicle crashes with three injuries, one very minor, as a result of the one- to two-inch snowfall, State Police officials report.
Only one incident, a slide-off, occurred in Putnam County during the morning snow as the majority of the occurrences were in Vigo and Clay counties along Interstate 70, with a concentration between mile markers 23 and 26 (eastern Clay County).
The most significant injury crash occurred at 10:51 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 70 near the 23-mile marker in Clay County. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2001 Dodge pickup, driven by Betty Catt, 63, of Marshall, Ill., was eastbound when Catt lost control on the slick roadway, went off the south side and rolled over three times.
As the pickup landed on its wheels, the vehicle struck a small tree, causing the tree and limbs to collapse onto the vehicle. In doing so, the crush damage entrapped her passenger father, 83-year-old Frank Morris of Marshall, Ill.
Morris was extricated by members of the Jackson and Posey Township Fire/Rescue Departments within 30 minutes of the initial 911 call.
Both victims were transported to Terre Haute Regional Hospital. Catt for facial lacerations and back pain, and Morris for back and rib pain and possible internal injuries. The injuries to both are believed to be moderate and not life-threatening.
The crash was investigated by ISP Master Trooper Matt Ames. Assisting were ISP Troopers Bill Bradbury and Ted Robertson.