Construction flagger struck by impaired driver on U.S. 231 south
UPDATE, 9:15 a.m. Friday: According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts, Danny Harrington remains in critical condition.
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A construction flagger was critically injured Thursday evening when he was hit by an alleged impaired driver on U.S. 231, south of Greencastle.
At 7:16 p.m., the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to a report of a multi-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian near 3037 U.S. 231 South, which is in the area of Jones Road (County Road 300 South).
Sheriff’s deputies initially responed but relinquished the crash investigation to the Indiana State Police.
Preliminary investigation revealed a flagger was stopping southbound traffic for pavement resurfacing. A 2008 Ford F150 stopped for the flagger, as did a 1995 Ford Crown Victoria.
A third vehicle, 2008 Subaru Outback, failed to stop, sideswiped the Crown Victoria, struck the Ford F150 and lastly, struck the flagger.
The flagger, Danny K. Harrington, 53, Terre Haute, was critically injured and airlifted by StatFlight to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment.
Harrington worked for Wabash Valley Asphalt.
The driver of the Subaru Outback was 52-year-old Jessie D. Parks of Cloverdale. She complained of pain and was treated and released from Putnam County Hospital.
Preliminary toxicology results indicated positive for marijuana and a BAC of .10 percent. She was set to be incarcerated in the Putnam County Jail Thursday evening on various charges, following the investigation with ISP. Alcoholic beverage containers were visible inside her car.
Driver of the Ford 150 was 52-year-old Robert D. Kennedy Jr. of West Terre Haute. Driver of the Crown Victoria was 73-year-old Murrell E. Pearson of Fairland. Neither were injured or cited.
U.S. 231 was closed following the crash and reopened at 10:48p.m.
The crash is being investigated by ISP Trooper Kyle Hall. Assisting were ISP Crash Reconstructionist Troopers Jordan Hall and Tim Rader, Master Trooper Todd Brown, ISP Detectives 1Sgt. Jason Fajt and Don Curtis, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Operation Life Paramedics, Greencastle Police, Greencastle Fire Department, Cloverdale Police and StatFlight Medivac.
There were also reports of a secondary accident on Airport Road involving traffic diverted from U.S. 231. No further details were available on the secondary crash as of press time.